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Apple’s AI Head Steps Down; Microsoft Executive Named as Replacement

today revealed that John Giannandrea, the firm’s Senior VP for Machine Learning and AI Strategy, will be resigning early next year. Giannandrea’s exit follows Apple’s failure to capitalize on generative AI, leaving the company in a position to catch up in the AI sector. To make matters worse, many of Apple’s ongoing initiatives to integrate AI into its platforms have been overshadowed by the more groundbreaking advancements introduced by companies like OpenAI and Google.

Taking over for Giannandrea will be Amar Subramanya who, for the preceding six months, has held the position of corporate VP of AI at Microsoft. Before that, he worked as a VP of Engineering at Google, contributing to AI software including Gemini. “Subramanya will oversee key areas, including Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and AI Safety and Evaluation,” part of Apple’s press release states. “The remainder of Giannandrea’s organization will transition to Sabih Khan and Eddy Cue to better align with analogous teams.”

It is yet to be determined whether Apple’s AI challenges will fade with Subramanya leading the way. What is undeniable, however, is that Apple’s AI team required significant restructuring. In addition to the fact that Apple’s AI initiatives have been underwhelming, reports suggest that internal confidence regarding AI is diminished. Just a few weeks prior, a report indicated that certain Apple engineers are already concerned that the next-generation version of Siri will not meet expectations. Furthermore, a Bloomberg report suggests that if the new Siri update fails to make a mark, there could be a swift departure of top AI talent from Apple sooner than anticipated.

Apple has been losing a lot of AI talent

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“Get $150 off Samsung’s Premier Chromebook with This Last-Minute Cyber Monday Offer”

It’s not common to find the Galaxy Chromebook Plus discounted.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

In late 2024, Samsung caught us off guard by making a notable return to the Chromebook market with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus. Fast forward to now, and it continues to be among the top choices available. Currently, it’s featured as one of the best Cyber Monday Chromebook offers, boasting a $150 discount.

Honestly, it’s somewhat surprising to see this deal still active, as it was one of the initial major Black Friday promotions we observed. Nevertheless, numerous fantastic <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/samsung-galaxy/black-friday-samsung-galaxy-deals-2025" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.androidcentral

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Substantial Savings on iPad, iPad Air, and Additional Items Offered for Cyber Monday Beginning at $274

### Cyber Monday Offers on Apple iPads: An In-Depth Review

The eagerly awaited Cyber Monday offers for Apple’s complete range of iPads have officially launched, showcasing substantial savings on a variety of models. Whether you need a device for streaming your preferred shows or a robust tablet for work, there’s an iPad suited for everyone. This piece emphasizes the top Cyber Monday deals on the standard iPad, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad Pro.

#### iPad Air: The Optimal All-Purpose Selection

For the majority of users, the **M3 iPad Air** is still the premier selection in the iPad range. It achieves an excellent equilibrium between performance and cost, making it perfect for those desiring an M series Apple tablet without the high expense of the M5 Pro variant. This Cyber Monday, every model of the iPad Air has a price cut of **$150 off**, presenting an appealing choice for those seeking capability without overspending.

#### Base iPad: Ideal for Casual Usage

Apple’s latest **base iPad** comes with an 11-inch display and caters to casual users. It’s a flexible gadget that the entire family can relish, making it fitting for both adults and kids. This version is currently priced at under **$280 shipped**, offering a budget-conscious option for anyone needing a dependable tablet without the sophisticated features of more premium models.

#### iPad Mini: Small and Cute

The **iPad mini 7** represents Apple’s most portable tablet, perfect for those who value mobility. Although it targets a specific segment, it provides an excellent price-to-performance balance. This model is also being sold at a discount of **$150 for Cyber Monday**, making it the most economical current-generation iPad capable of utilizing Apple Intelligence capabilities.

#### iPad Pro: The Ultimate Power Device

For those in search of the most formidable tablet on the market, the **2025 iPad Pro** with the M5 chip stands as the crown jewel of Apple’s line. Although it requires a significant financial commitment, it is built for users aiming to substitute a conventional laptop with a tablet. The iPad Pro models are currently priced **$100 less**, starting at the following rates:

– **13-inch M5 iPad Pro 256GB**: $1,199 (Regular Price $1,299)
– **13-inch M5 iPad Pro 512GB**: $1,399 (Regular Price $1,499)
– **13-inch M5 iPad Pro 1TB**: $1,769 (Regular Price $1,899)
– **13-inch M5 iPad Pro nano-texture 1TB**: $1,899 (Regular Price $1,999)
– **13-inch M5 iPad Pro 2TB**: $2,142 (Regular Price $2,299)

#### Accessories to Elevate Your iPad Experience

To enhance your iPad Pro, think about the **Magic Keyboard**, which converts your tablet into a full-fledged computer, simplifying typing and administrative tasks. Moreover, the **Apple Pencil** is a must-have accessory for improving your iPad experience. Presently, the premier Apple Pencil Pro is priced under **$99**, while the latest Apple Pencil (USB-C) is at a record low of **$49**.

#### Summary

This Cyber Monday offers an outstanding chance to acquire an iPad at a discounted rate, regardless of whether you’re in search of a casual device or a high-performance tablet. With reductions throughout the entire lineup, now is the ideal moment to invest in an Apple iPad that meets your requirements. For continuous updates on the finest Apple Cyber Monday deals, make sure to explore dedicated lists and summaries.

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Key Obstacles Confronting Apple’s New AI Leader from the Start

Amar Subramanya is poised to become one of the most scrutinized appointments Apple has made in recent years. Here’s his initial course of action.

### Apple’s Newly Appointed VP of AI Brings Some Relevant Background

After John Giannandrea’s retirement announcement, Apple announced that Amar Subramanya would join the firm following under six months as the Corporate Vice President of AI at the recently established Microsoft AI division. Prior to this, he dedicated 16 years at Google, starting as a Staff Research Scientist and advancing to Principal Engineer, ultimately being appointed Vice President of Engineering in 2019. He also contributed to two prominent publications related to high-profile releases: Gemini in December 2023 and Imagen 3 in August 2024.

Interestingly, Google has faced a similar challenge in recent years as Apple. Like many in the industry, Google fell behind when ChatGPT was launched and hurriedly sought to find its footing, which was particularly challenging for them as Google was the creator of the Transformer architecture (the T in GPT). However, as anyone closely following the AI domain can attest, Google is undeniably back and competitively challenging OpenAI. Following the latest Gemini model release, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman warned his team to brace for some “rough vibes” and “temporary economic headwinds,” meaning: “they have caught up to us, this situation is persistent, and investors recognize it too.”

Google’s journey toward not-quite-AGI-but-near-equivalent intelligence compared to OpenAI was filled with hurdles. Remember when Bard was the company’s projection for AI’s future? Fond memories. It took them almost three years (close to the exact date of ChatGPT’s launch) to implement a significant course correction, yet they accomplished it. While it’s too soon to determine if they can consistently outperform OpenAI, that isn’t even the crux of the matter. The crucial point is that they not only possess a state-of-the-art model but also have every Google-owned platform available for deployment, a resource unmatched by others. And even though Subramanya departed Google in June, he was evidently heavily involved in the majority of the development of these new Gemini models during his time as the company’s VP of Engineering.

### And What Is On Apple’s Agenda?

From the outset, Subramanya will undoubtedly encounter significant expectations to rectify the perceived missteps of his predecessor. On the positive side, this provides him a degree of goodwill and, to some extent, some time to first organize the situation and then to rectify it. However, he faces a tough challenge ahead with a severely understaffed team at an all-time low morale. While it’s impossible to predict definitively from the outside, it seems reasonable to conclude that he will need to quickly bring in additional talent if he hopes to recover from the constant series of setbacks Apple has endured, especially in the last year.

The encouraging news is that with new leadership in position and all the elements of a somewhat fresh start, Apple may be able to draw in talent that, until very recently, viewed a career in machine learning at the company as lacking promise. Some of these individuals may very well be former colleagues of Subramanya. Moreover, there’s the external expectation, which isn’t entirely his responsibility. His role is to enhance Apple’s underlying AI technology, while marketing and product teams will dictate how to convey that narrative. Nonetheless, that narrative will solely depend on what he can genuinely achieve, carefully balancing the need to act swiftly to demonstrate his value while ensuring that Apple can genuinely fulfill its AI aspirations, even if it entails initiating parts of its work from the ground up.

Lastly, there’s the long-term perspective. While rebuilding trust (both internally and externally) will form the bulk of his initiatives, this will merely be the starting point. In recent years, we’ve become accustomed to considering Apple’s role in machine learning as merely catching up to its rivals. However, that’s not the entire picture. The responsibility of any company aiming for significant advancements in AI is to cultivate an ecosystem where research and application can mutually enhance one another, which, ironically, is what John Giannandrea sought to establish prior to ChatGPT revolutionizing the industry.

While it might seem unjust that, despite his substantial contributions, Giannandrea will likely be remembered as the individual who faltered in AI at Apple, his tenure should also act as a cautionary lesson for Subramanya: repairing what is currently broken is just one aspect of the role. Equally vital will be laying the groundwork for the technological advancements of the coming decades that will not

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Google Reveals the Future of Android XR, Emphasizing Gemini’s Key Position

Google is genuinely bringing the glasses concept to life, no joke!

(Image credit: The Android Show)

Essential information

  • Google is promoting the Android Show: XR Edition livestream on December 8 to explore the future of XR innovation.
  • Gemini integration within Galaxy XR boosts user experience through interactive features and real-world search functionalities.
  • We’re looking forward to the introduction of the “Memory feature” for tracking personal items using XR gadgets.

Disclaimer

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Visible Wireless Provides 50% Discount on Top Plan for Cyber Monday Using Exclusive Code

Get $225 off Verizon-enabled wireless this year!

(Image credit: Android Central)

The Cyber Monday offers are wrapping up, but I just found a Visible Wireless promotion that could significantly change your mobile bill in 2026. Enroll in the highly-rated Visible Plus Pro annual plan with the code BLACKFRIDAY50 at checkout and receive 50% off your full year of service. That’s a $225 discount, with no hidden catches. Just remember to enroll before the offer ends on December 9th! 

Achieve 50% OFF one year of service with this Visible Cyber Monday promotion

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Enhance Your Wi-Fi Range with This $19 Smart Home Enhancement

Your Wi-Fi network essentially serves as the vital core of your smart home. Similar to how a real heart benefits from nutritious food and exercise, your home network operates optimally when you fine-tune a few crucial elements. The most significant factor? Having a robust router. While your internet provider may readily rent you a modem-router combination, purchasing your own equipment not only eliminates those recurring rental costs — it also allows you to choose a router that genuinely offers the speed and coverage you require.

However, routers can become expensive quite quickly. If you’re on a budget, a wise approach is to select a dependable mid-range router and complement it with a Wi-Fi extender. This pairing helps keep expenses low while enhancing performance. We’ve previously reviewed the top Wi-Fi range extenders, and an outstanding current option is the TP-Link RE315 AC1200 Wi-Fi Extender.

With a 4.2-star rating on Amazon based on over 37,000 reviews, it’s a great pick for both new configurations and existing networks. Additionally, it’s a game changer if your home has frustrating Wi-Fi dead zones. In a highly positive review of the AC1200, one Amazon user remarked, “

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Four Efficient Techniques to Sustain the Performance of Your Aging Android Device

frequent errors when purchasing Android devices. However, if you possess a fairly recent Android device and it’s in good physical condition, you can often prolong its life by adjusting a few settings, performing some routine maintenance, and modifying certain concealed features to revitalize it.

We have previously discussed how to enhance slow animation rates on older Android devices. Yet, that is merely scratching the surface. There is an abundance of other actions you can take on Android, such as deleting the cache to enhance everyday performance. Here are four relatively obscure and hidden methods to make your Android device feel entirely refreshed.

Alter the limit for background processes

Samsung Provides Exclusive $150 Price Cut on Galaxy Watch 8 for a Limited Time

Samsung’s site displays diverse Cyber Monday pricing for various individuals, yet we still observe a 43% discount on the Galaxy Watch 8 — without any trade-in required.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Note: I cannot assure you that you will secure the finest Cyber Monday smartwatch offer accessible today. However, if you remain determined, you ought to be able to obtain the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 for $199 ($150 discount) on Samsung’s website, rather than the $249 price indicated on Amazon or Best Buy.

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“Best Meta Quest 3 Controller Enhancement available for $17 on Cyber Monday”

If you happened to be among the fortunate individuals who managed to grab a Meta Quest 3 Cyber Monday bargain, congratulations! I can bet you’re close to being out of cash at this moment, BUT if you still have $17 left, listen up. AMVR produces these clever little controller grips that substitute the battery cover, providing much-needed traction and a comfy wrist strap, all for (you guessed it) $17 this Cyber Monday.

Why is this a necessity? At least for me, the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S controllers are very prone to being dropped. I find them to be somewhat slippery and just a bit uncomfortable for certain games. Adding a hand strap essentially resolves everything I dislike about the design and not only greatly improves comfort by distributing the weight across your entire hand, but it also makes throwing items in VR significantly simpler.

That last part may seem trivial until you understand how frequently you need to throw items in VR games….

These extra minimalist grips for the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S are a substantial enhancement without adding bulk to your controllers. In fact, they balance the weight so well, you’ll question how you ever utilized the controllers without them. Just remove the old battery cover, snap these on, and experience gameplay like never before!

✅Recommended if: You find the Meta Quest’s controllers somewhat small, easy to drop, or just slightly unbalanced. These address all those issues and make tossing items in VR easier as well!

❌Skip this deal if: You’re in search of a full controller cover to protect against dings and scratches, or if you use a charging dock for your controllers. Docks are not compatible with controller grips.

Among all the grips available for Quest controllers, these are my favorite due to their minimalist design. They simply replace the battery cover. There’s no cumbersome installation like what a full coverage controller grip typically requires, and the only time you need to take these off is when you want to replace the battery. In that scenario, there’s no change in procedure from the standard kit, making this a significant win.

If you prefer a full coverage controller grip, I would suggest these Kiwi Design G4 Max grips, although the additional material will come at a slightly higher price.

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