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New details leak about Sam Altman and Jony Ive’s coming ‘AI companions’

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Ben Geskin rendering of OpenAI-io device
Ben Geskin posted this image of a possible AI companion device on X.com in response to Ming Chi-Kuo's post.
Photo: BenGeskin/X.com

In an OpenAI meeting Wednesday, CEO Sam Altman revealed ambitious plans to develop AI-powered devices in partnership with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, targeting the release of 100 million “AI companion” devices that could reshape how users interact with artificial intelligence, according to a new report.

Altman described it to employees as a “chance to do the biggest thing we’ve ever done as a company.” OpenAI’s acquisition of Ive’s io startup is the company’s boldest hardware venture yet, potentially creating the first major alternative to smartphone and computer dominance.

And on Thursday, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo weighed in with possible details about OpenAI’s wearable device.

Master generative AI and the code behind it with these courses

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Drawing of person teaching generative AI courses
Learn generative AI with this hugely discounted course bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Large language models, machine learning and similar tools all fall under the broad label of AI. However, they require different approaches if you want to make effective use of them. The 2025 Generative AI & ChatGPT Master Course Bundle sets you up with five courses that take you from the coding fundamentals through integrating these tools into your development workflow.

Right now, you can learn everything you need to know about these powerful tools with these generative AI courses for less than $20.

Will Jony Ive’s secret new AI products kill Apple? Doubtful.

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AI-generated image of Jony Ive and Sam Altman with a next-gen AI device.
An AI-generated image of Jony Ive and Sam Altman with a next-gen AI device.
AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac

Will Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s new partnership dethrone Apple? A lot of people seem to think that in a battle of OpenAI vs. Apple, the iPhone maker is on borrowed time.

Looking at social media, the hype about OpenAI’s acquisition of Ive’s startup io is off the charts. Many pundits predict doom for Apple, which is already widely assumed to be woefully behind in AI. Apple’s stock took a big dive on the news of OpenAI’s acquisition of Ive’s secret company Wednesday.

But I highly doubt that Ive and Altman will topple Apple from its throne. Apple still has massive advantages — and they’re perhaps unassailable. Here’s why.

Apple Intelligence is cool and all, but this app can do your homework

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Two students getting help from AI homework helper app SpeedTutorAI.
Hook up with a lifetime AI study buddy for less than $30!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

SpeedTutorAI is an AI homework helper app for iPhone and iPad that takes the possibilities of Siri and ChatGPT to new heights. You’ll get help with math problems, answers to your questions, and concise summaries of class lectures, all as if you were working with a real-life tutor.

But you won’t pay real-world tutor fees. You can secure lifetime access to SpeedTutorAI with unlimited use for only $29.97.

Server chips in development will power Apple Intelligence

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new AI server chips
Incredibly powerful new chips are on the way to help with Apple Intelligence.
Photo: Apple

Among various chips Apple currently develops for products like smart glasses and Macs, new AI server chips will help power the Apple Intelligence platform, according to a report Thursday. And the new, immensely powerful AI server chips will be the first of their kind for Apple.

Go from song idea to full track in seconds with this AI music generator

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A person with headphones listening to music to illustrate Supermusic, an AI music generator that can turn ideas into albums.
Make music in moments with this AI music generator.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Supermusic AI app gives you two ways to make music. If you have a basic idea for a song, you can describe it to the AI music generator. Then just answer a few questions about the type of track you want to create, and Supermusic will craft an original song for you.

If you already have complete lyrics, even better. You can feed them into Supermusic AI to create a song around them. Keep in mind that this isn’t just a little tune. Supermusic AI generates lifelike vocals singing the lyrics you give it. Whichever way you create your songs, it only takes a moment before you can listen and share. And you can get a lifetime to Supermusic’s AI music-generating magic for just $39.97.

Sound like a superhero with new wireless AI gaming microphone

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Maono DM40 Pro Wireless Gaming Microphone
In white or black, Maono's new USB/Wireless microphone offers AI-powered voice effects and more.
Photo: Maono

The new Maono DM40 Pro Wireless Gaming Microphone brings professional-grade audio quality and cool features like AI voice effects, the company said Tuesday. Also sporting Apple-esque design sensibilities, the new mic looks like a great companion for your Mac gaming and streaming setup. And you can get 10% off right now, too.

Apple shifts robotics team to hardware as leadership shuffle continues

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Apple robotics team gets new leadership
This fanciful AI image may or may not approximate future Apple robotic products.
AI image: Grok

In another significant leadership reshuffle at Apple, a little-known robotics team will soon move from AI chief John Giannandrea’s oversight to John Ternus, Apple’s senior VP of Hardware Engineering, according to a new report Thursday.

This shift follows last month’s decision to remove Siri from Giannandrea’s responsibilities after concerns about execution on product development.

xMEMS Labs micro tweeter helps power audio in new AI sports glasses

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BleeqUp Ranger AI sports glasses
BleeqUp Ranger AI sports glasses feature xMEMS Labs' Cowell micro tweeter.
Photo: xMEMS Labs

A cutting-edge pair of AI sports glasses feature innovative audio technology from xMEMS Labs, the company said Tuesday. The new BleeqUp Ranger glasses, developed by Chinese startup BleeqUp, represents the first commercial use of a xMEMS solid state microtweeter in AI eyewear — but likely not the only one.

“xMEMS is proud to help power the next generation of AI wearables,” said Steven Bentley, VP of worldwide sales at xMEMS Labs. “The integration of Cowell into BleeqUp’s glasses not only showcases the high-fidelity performance of our MEMS speakers. We’re excited to help more companies accelerate their path to market with compact, high-performance audio solutions for AI glasses.”

Perhaps that, or the upcoming uses of xMEMS Labs’ Sycamore microspeaker, could signal a new direction for Apple if it revives its smart glasses project.

How to run DeepSeek and other LLMs locally on your Mac

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Run LLM locally on your Mac
Run DeepSeek or Meta's Llama locally on your Mac!
Graphics: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Apple Intelligence are powerful, but they all share one major drawback — they need constant access to the internet to work. If you value privacy and want better performance, running a large language model like DeepSeek, Google’s Gemma or Meta’s Llama locally on your Mac is a great alternative.

Think it sounds complicated? It’s easier than you think. With the right tools, you can run DeepSeek or any other popular LLM locally on your Mac with minimal effort.

How Apple accidentally made the best AI computer

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2025 Mac Studio
2025 Mac Studio
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is perceived as a laggard in the AI race — despite that, Apple has developed the single best computer for AI research. The new Mac Studio with an M3 Ultra chip, which supports up to 512GB of unified memory, is the easiest and cheapest way to run powerful, cutting-edge LLMs on your own hardware.

The latest DeepSeek v3 model, which sent shockwaves through the AI space for its comparable performance to ChatGPT, can run entirely on a single Mac, Apple AI researchers revealed Monday.

It’s a machine that fits comfortably on your desk, rather than a server farm; it costs the same as a used Honda Civic, not a new Lamborghini.

How did this happen? Most remarkably of all — by sheer coincidence. Here’s why the Apple silicon architecture makes for the best AI hardware, a use case Apple didn’t mean to design it for.

AI is taking over. Learn to use it to your advantage for just $30.

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Abstract image of AI with a circuit board as the background to illustrate a post about AI classes.
Save 87% on this bundle of 50 generative AI classes.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Artificial intelligence is changing everything, and this affordable bundle of AI classes can help you ride the wave. The 2025 Ultimate GenAI Masterclass Bundle is a massive, 50-course training bundle that gives you lifetime access to expert-led AI training.

It covers everything from ChatGPT, Google Bard and AI-powered coding assistants to tools for generating text, images and videos. Whether you’re a total beginner or a tech pro, these courses will help you master the latest tools and put them to work. And the best part? The AI classes bundle costs just $29.99 (regularly $249) for a limited time.

Price drop: Let AI turn your data into amazing visuals

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An image of a U.S. map on a Mac, created using Columns AI, a tool for using data to create bar charts, line graphs and other visuals.
Get this AI-based presentation tool at a hugely discounted price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Creating effective bar charts, line graphs and other presentation visuals takes skill — unless you use artificial intelligence to handle the heavy lifting. Columns AI takes your data and automatically generates all the imagery you need to spice up your presentations and reports.

It’s much more accurate and intuitive than something like ChatGPT. And right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription for just $79 (regularly $900).

When it comes to making Siri smarter, the struggle is real

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Image of an iPhone with the words
It's official: The smarter Siri that Apple touted last year is taking longer than expected.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple confirmed Friday that the smarter Siri promised at WWDC24 isn’t coming together as quickly as anticipated. After touting the minor Siri upgrades that already rolled out, a company statement ended on a depressing note.

“We’ve also been working on a more personalized Siri, giving it more awareness of your personal context, as well as the ability to take action for you within and across your apps,” said Apple spokeswoman Jacqueline Roy. “It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.”

This confirms multiple previous rumors indicating that users pining for a smarter Siri shouldn’t hold their breath.

Say goodbye to unreliable AI — generate fact-checked content with ease

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Photo of a woman working on her laptop using Katteb AI writer while she is on the couch.
This reliable AI content generator is on sale at a huge discount for a lifetime plan.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’ve ever been let down by artificial intelligence providers spitting out half-truths and random guesses, it’s time to upgrade to Katteb. This AI-powered content generator is designed to deliver factually accurate, SEO-friendly and plagiarism-free content across more than 30 content types in more than 110 languages.

With a lifetime subscription to Katteb, you’ll finally have a tool that’s as smart as it claims to be. And it’s on sale now for just $79.99 (regularly $195) as a one-time payment.

Learn about AI and computer programming for only $40

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Sci-fi image of a cyborg hand, used to illustrate a deals post on an educational bundle that teaches you ChatGPT coding and Python programming
This bundle of tech courses can help you launch a lucrative and fulfilling new career.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Ready to take your understanding of coding and artificial intelligence to the next level? This programming bundle for ChatGPT and Python shows you how to pull off coding projects big and small, from “beginner to winner.” And you can get all 14 courses, with a total of 86 hours of courses, for only $39.99 (regularly $154).

You get lifetime access to the lesssons, which are a great way to establish a fundamental understanding of impactful technology.

This startup is building a real-world version of Her’s Samantha by tackling screen addiction

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Photo of woman lying on grass and wearing Natura Umana's HumanPods earbuds.
HumanPods earbuds are just the start of Natura Umana's AI plans.
Photo: Natura Umana

In a world dominated by screens, where the average person spends more than seven hours a day glued to digital devices, the question arises: Is there a better way to integrate technology into our lives? Swiss company Natura Umana believes there is. Taking inspiration from Spike Jonze’s iconic film Her, the company is developing a revolutionary AI ecosystem that replaces screen dependency with natural, voice-first interaction.

At the heart of Natura Umana’s vision are two pioneering products: HumanPods, the first AI earbuds designed for all-day wear, and NatureOS, a software platform that introduces “AI People” — intelligent agents that feel more like companions than tools. Together, these innovations aim to reduce screen addiction, enhance productivity and foster real-world human connections, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to privacy.

Transcribe, translate and summarize any conversation with this advanced AI voice recorder

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Woman using her phone with the Focais Meet One AI voice recorder attached to it.
This AI-powered voice recorder offers a high-tech solution for capturing, transcribing, translating and summaring long calls, meetings and classes.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Focais Meet One is an AI-powered device that elevates note-taking and voice recording to a new level. Designed for convenience and accuracy, the AI voice recorder combines voice recognition with advanced AI features to streamline capturing and organizing essential details from conversations.

Its AI transcription feature supports more than 120 languages. This makes it an ideal tool for multilingual environments and anyone dealing with diverse clients or partners. Whether it’s a meeting, lecture or phone call, the Focais Meet One transcribes conversations accurately.

It’s a perfect companion for busy professionals, students or anyone who regularly handles meetings and calls. And for a limited time, this advanced AI voice recorder is on sale for just $99.99.

Get this great PDF editor for half the price of Adobe

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A man using LightPDF PDF editor on an iPad.
LightPDF is a good Adobe Acrobat alternative that costs less than an Adobe subscription.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Looking for an Adobe Acrobat alternative? LightPDF is a great, feature-rich PDF editor that costs less than half of an annual Adobe subscription. And it works on iPhones, Androids and Windows PCs.

LightPDF not only comes with countless PDF-editing features and OCR tech, but it’s also integrated with AI to summarize lengthy text for you. You can grab it for life for only $79.99 (regularly $109.99) while supplies last.

How to use Apple Intelligence Writing Tools

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Apple Intelligence Writing Tools
The writing tools are the most fleshed out Apple Intelligence feature, at least at first.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

One of the top Apple Intelligence features is a new set of system-wide AI writing tools. You can invoke these intelligent writing helpers anytime, anywhere to help you compose, edit, rewrite, summarize, reformat or proofread text.

In my experience, they can really streamline reformatting a document and can be helpful for making your written communication better. Here’s how to make the most of Apple Intelligence writing tools.

Talk to different AI personas with new HumanPods wireless earbuds

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Natura Umana Humanpods
Tap to talk with a variety of "AI people," depending on your needs.
Photo: Natura Umana

New open-ear wireless earbuds called HumanPods unveiled at CES 2025 offer voice access to different artificial intelligence personas with a tap, according to startup Natura Umana.

The new earphones, which also play music, of course, promise to deliver what the company calls “the closest experience to a telepathic connection with your technology” by offering direct access to AI assistance through simple touch controls. The company’s CEO provides a little video demo below (complete with a few bugs).

Let AI write your perfect resume with this $39 job-hunting tool

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Let AI write you the perfect resume with this $39 job-hunting tool.
Use this AI tool to write better resumes and land the job you want.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Job interviews can prove intimidating, but these days, there’s a much more important interview going on behind the scenes. It happens the moment you upload your resume. And because it’s crucial that you pass this “invisible interview,” AI Resume Builder could be the most essential weapon in your job-hunting arsenal.

It could help you land that coveted real job interview that’s key to getting your dream job. Fortunately, this resume-writing tool is now on sale for only $39 (regularly $468). You won’t find a better deal than this anywhere else online.

After Ai Pin flops, Humane wants to put its CosmOS everywhere

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Humane CosmOS software
Humane's new CosmOS works with AI across platforms.
Photo: Humane

After the disappointing launch of its Ai Pin wearable device, San Francisco-based tech company Humane shifts its focus to CosmOS. It’s a new AI-powered operating system that promises to revolutionize how users rely on artificial intelligence to interact with their smart devices, including Apple’s. The Humane AI Pin struggled to deliver on its promises, prompting the company to pivot toward software-driven innovation.

That might remind folks of Steve Jobs’ long-ago move from Apple to NeXT, which ended up dropping hardware entirely and focusing on software.

Humane demonstrated CosmOS running across multiple platforms including car entertainment systems, smart speakers, TVs and smartphones in a new video Wednesday. The system aims to provide functionality similar to AI assistants like Siri, but appears more advanced, enabling complex, context-aware interactions across various devices.

Tim Cook opens up about Apple’s AI strategy and Vision Pro’s future

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Tim Cook on Apple Intelligence
Tim Cook spoke recently at Apple Park during the "It's Glowtime" event.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed details about the company’s approach to artificial intelligence and defended its Vision Pro headset in an extensive interview Wednesday. In a now-familiar refrain, he discussed the company’s strategic entry into generative AI while addressing criticisms about Apple’s seemingly delayed response to the AI boom.

“We never talked about charging for it,” Cook said of Apple Intelligence. “We view it sort of like multitouch, which enabled the smartphone revolution and the modern tablet.”