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Gemini Mac app puts Google AI right in your workflow

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Gemini for Mac app gives you a new AI option.
Gemini for Mac offers a faster, more integrated way to get AI help.
AI image: Google/Apple/Gemini/Cult of Mac

Google brought its Gemini AI assistant directly to Mac, launching a new native macOS app on Wednesday. The app makes it easy to share what’s on your computer’s screen with the AI.

It’s designed to be more tightly integrated with the user’s workflow than the web version.

New AI voice recorder captures calls even when you wear AirPods

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HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder
You can keep your AirPods in with this one.
Photo: HiDock

A new AI voice recorder promises to solve one of the most persistent frustrations for professionals who live on calls — capturing both sides of a conversation via Bluetooth even when you wear headphones, and without requring bots, subscriptions or complicated setup. It’s the new HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder.

Apple’s Siri overhaul targets more natural, multistep queries

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Apple Siri logo under construction
Apple is hard at work creating the new Siri.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple is working to upgrade Siri so the voice assistant can handle multiple requests at once, according to an unconfirmed report from Bloomberg. The feature would let users combine several commands into a single query instead of issuing them one at a time.

It’s apparently part of a much larger project to inject some real intelligence into Siri. Artificial intelligence.

Siri could become Apple’s gateway to every AI

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Apple plans to open Siri to competing AI assistants
iOS 27 will reportedly let iPhone users choose the AI they want Siri to use for tough questions and problems.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple is planning a major shift for Siri in iOS 27, opening the voice assistant up to multiple third-party AI services, not just ChatGPT, according to a report published Thursday.

If true, this means iPhone users will be able to route Siri requests to different AI models, such as Google’s Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude, depending on their preference.

AirPods Max 2 surprise and disappoint, plus OpenClaw! [Cult of Mac podcast No. 12]

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Image of AirPods Max 2, with the words,
Apple's new headphones seem awfully familiar ...
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The surprise release of AirPods Max 2 gives us plenty to talk about (including all the things Apple didn’t fix about the high-end headphones).

Plus, special guest Christina Warren (developer advocate at GitHub and co-host of the MacBreak Weekly podcast) joins us for a deep dive into one of Leander’s favorite topics — OpenClaw, the open-source AI agent that’s got everyone snapping up Mac minis, and the rise of agentic coding.

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • More on the MacBook Neo, including why every Mac owner should be thrilled that it comes with just 8GB of unified memory.
  • Griffin reviews the new Studio Display XDR and iPhone 17e.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.

Dev runs data-center AI model on MacBook — and it changes everything

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data-center AI model on MacBook
A developer did with a MacBook Pro what usually requires a whole rack of specialized, powerful gear.
AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac

Over the past few years, the artificial intelligence race looked like a story about infrastructure. Which company can build the biggest, most power-hungry data center, stock it with the most Nvidia GPUs and spend the most money? OpenAI, Amazon, Google, xAI — they’re all in a competition to build industrial-scale computing factories just to run the most powerful AI models. But it looks like developer Dan Woods just upended that story by running a data-center AI model on MacBook.

And that could mean Apple wins the AI race after all.

New platform makes it easy to craft perfect AI prompts

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Photo of AI prompt generator VibeFarm opened on a laptop.
Quit wasting your time trying to create (or remember) the perfect AI prompt.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

AI prompt generator VibeFarm gives you a new way to write, revise and reuse AI prompts so you achieve the best results in the shortest time. Just use this simple but sophisticated tool to create the perfect prompt, then feed it to your AI of choice. 

After you achieve your goal, you can use VibeFarm to easily tweak your prompt and reproduce similarly stellar results time and time again. And right now, a lifetime subscription to VibeFarm costs just $99.99 (regularly $539).

One platform to handle resumes, interviews and salary talks for just $50

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CareerSprinter how-it-works on a laptop device placed on top of a wooden console table.
Save 89% on lifetime access to CareerSprinter Pro Plan while it's on sale!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

CareerSprinter Pro gives you lifetime access to AI-powered resume, interview and salary tools that help you job hunt smarter and move your career forward with confidence — for a one-time payment of $49.99.

Hive AI’s collaborative tools handle writing, research and more, all in one place

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Photo of Hive AI shown on the screen of a laptop
Save 87% on lifetime access to Hive AI's Unlimited Plan.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s easy to lose track of your projects when all your ideas and notes are scattered across different apps. If you want a simpler way to get organized, try Hive AI. This browser-based workspace pulls documents, visual boards and structured data into one place — and adds AI tools to help you clean things up faster.

It’s part workspace, part AI-integrated project manager, and it’s great for working alone or collaborating with others. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to Hive AI for just $79 (regularly $619).

What to expect at the ‘special Apple Experience’ [Cult of Mac podcast No. 8]

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Image of layered yellow and green Apple logo, with the Cult of Mac podcast logo
Apple's March 4 event sounds unusual (and clever).
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The “special Apple Experience” planned for March 4 doesn’t sound like a typical Apple event. What could it be? And what new hardware will we see?

It definitely doesn’t look like Apple CEO Tim Cook will be hitting us with his standard “good mooooorning” … we go over the possibilities.

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • Apple is ramping up its AI efforts with three interesting new products: smart glasses, a pendant/pin and AirPods with earcams. The devices all have one thing in common — and we should see at least one of them later this year!
  • While iOS 26.3 was a total snoozefest, the first beta of iOS 26.4 brings some exciting new features.
  • We try to wrap our minds around the strangest MacBook Air setup we’ve ever seen.
  • And finally, Griffin gives us the scoop on an excellent, affordable iPhone game controller he reviewed.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

This 7-course generative AI learning bundle costs just $30

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A futuristic image of a glowing AI‑chip brain surrounded by robotic hands, with a digital globe and data graphics in the background, used to illustrate a deal on generative AI courses
Access 7 generative AI courses for life for a discounted price—save 78%!
Image: Cult of Mac Deals

The courses in the 2026 Complete Generative AI Mastery Bundle will teach you how to use AI for automation, advanced content production, project management and more. We’re talking real-world workflows that will help you get more done every day.

And right now, you can get these seven generative AI courses, with 43.5 hours of instruction, for just $29.99 (MSRP $140).

3 game-changing AI wearables Apple is rushing to launch

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Illustration of a man wearing Apple smart glasses, AirPods with cameras and an AI pendant, all rumored to be coming soon.
Apple's got an ambitious plan for new AI wearables.
Illustration: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Apple is putting the pedal to the metal as it rushes to produce new types of AI-powered wearable devices. Three products — smart glasses, upgraded AirPods and an AirTag-size pendant — will rely on built-in cameras, the iPhone’s processing power and the upgraded Siri voice assistant to power new AI capabilities.

A new report, based on anonymous sources within the company, sheds light on what the devices will look like, what they will do, and when we can expect them.

How smarter Apple Intelligence could empower Apple Home

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Apple Intelligence could empower Apple Home
Improvements in Apple Intelligence could soon have it anticipating your home-automation needs.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s smart-home platform has long trailed competitors like Amazon Alexa and Google Home in automation capabilities and intelligent features. But with further development of Apple Intelligence — the company’s suite of AI-powered tools — that gap may finally close, and Apple Intelligence truly could empower Apple Home.

While Apple hasn’t officially announced AI-driven Home automations, the groundwork is clearly being laid for a future where your smart home anticipates your needs rather than simply responding to commands.

That Siri upgrade coming in iOS 26.4? Don’t get your hopes up.

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Don't get your hopes up for AI-enabled Siri in iOS 26.4
The wait for AI-enabled Siri could stretch past iOS 26.4.
Image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

iOS 26.4 could turn out to be a dud. The long-delayed artificial intelligence enhancements for Apple’s Siri digital assistant that had been eagerly expected to launch in the next iPhone software update are reportedly not anywhere close to being ready.

The new capabilities, originally slated for a spring release, are now being spread across multiple future updates as engineers work to resolve persistent technical issues, according to sources familiar with the company’s internal plans.

Instead of juggling AI tabs, grab this powerful browser extension

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AI-generated pop art image of MacBook with BrowserCopilot AI Chrome browser extension
Put AI right in your browser with an unlimited lifetime deal on BrowserCopilot.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac Deals

BrowserCopilot puts a powerful AI assistant right inside your web browser, helping you write, research and reply more quickly — without switching tabs or breaking your workflow.

It harnesses three of the most popular AIs around: ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. And for a limited time, you can secure lifetime access to BrowserCopilot for just $69. That’s an 88% discount off the regular price of $619.

How OpenClaw turns your Mac into an action-based AI agent

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AI-generated image of a MacBook running OpenClaw, which turns a Mac into an AI assistant.
Letting an AI agent handle the busywork.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Clawdbot. Moltbot. OpenClaw. The rapid rebranding might confuse you, but behind that name is a genuinely useful tool. OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI agent that you can run on your own Mac or PC.

More importantly, it can carry out actions on your behalf, like reading and modifying files, running shell commands, and even installing new tools. Think of OpenClaw as an AI agent running on your Mac that can act as your always-on digital butler.

AI in Xcode, folds in iPhones [Cult of Mac podcast No. 6]

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AI-generated image of a robot looking at code, with the words
Apple's making it easier for anyone to crank out code.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

On the latest episode of the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple makes a pretty bold move by adding third-party AI coding tools to Xcode. This will make it easier for professional developers to deal with drudge work.

It also makes it simpler for beginners to write their own apps. With AI in Xcode, anyone with a good idea can make their coding dream come true. And this raises all kinds of questions …

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • A new leak offers more info on the upcoming foldable iPhone. And another new leak indicates Apple might make a different style of folding phone, too. Do we really need such things?
  • Apple updates some ancient iPhones, pretty much laying waste to the Cupertino conspiracy theory about forced obsolescence.
  • And finally, Griffin shows an iPhone tip that could prove lifesaving for some — and definitely will prove useful for many.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Tim Cook hints that new AI-enabled products are on the way — what to expect

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Apple Tim Cook in AI-enabled smart glasses
We might see Tim Cook wearing Apple's AI-powered smart glasses later this year.
Product concept: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook said he’s excited about the “new categories of products and services that are enabled through AI” during a meeting with company employees Thursday.

He didn’t go into specifics, but some of the new AI-powered devices reportedly on drawing boards at Apple headquarters have already leaked out. Here’s what’s coming.

Apple CEO commits to ‘personal and private’ AI for users

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Apple CEO commits to 'personal and private' AI for users
Apple's CEO is "very happy with the collaboration with Google" on AI.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about the collaboration with Google that will upgrade the Siri voice assistant with Gemini AI. He emphasized that the new Siri will “maintain our industry-leading privacy standards.”

Cook also said Apple will continue to develop its own artificial intelligence models, even as it uses Google’s.

Apple acquires Q.ai in $2 billion bet on next-gen AI ‘silent speech’

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Apple acquires Q.ai in $2 billion bet on next-gen AI 'silent speech'
Q.ai technology could make Siri much easier to talk to.
Image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple just paid $2 billion for Q.ai, an AI company with technology that could dramatically enhance the Siri voice assistant. It’s a stealth-mode Israeli artificial intelligence startup that develops advanced technologies to improve human/computer communication beyond basic speech recognition.
It’s the second largest acquisition in Apple history.

Price drop: This AI speech-to-text tool for Mac and PC hits 99.7% accuracy

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VoiceType AI opened on a laptop device
VoiceType AI is on sale right now, save 74%!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Switching to an AI speech-to-text tool could be the best productivity shift you make. VoiceType AI is a desktop-based dictation tool that turns your spoken words into clear, well-formatted text with 99.7% accuracy.
Most people type at around 40 words per minute. But VoiceType AI captures speech at up to 360 words per minute, giving you a serious productivity boost without sacrificing quality. And right now, it costs just $24.99 for a lifetime subscription (regularly $154).

Apple works on AI wearable with mics, cameras and more

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Apple AI Pin concept
An Apple AI Pin could look something like this concept design.
Concept image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly exploring a new category of wearable hardware: an AirTag-sized AI pin designed to clip onto clothing and function hands-free without a screen.
After mostly sitting on the sidelines for years, Apple is apparently jumping into the AI game in a big way.

Apple may reinvent Siri as a conversational AI in iOS 27

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Apple may reinvent Siri as a conversational AI in iOS 27
What if Siri was actually (gasp!) useful?
Image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

Forget the old, nearly useless Siri — Apple reportedly plans to upgrade the iPhone’s voice assistant into an AI-powered chatbot with iOS 27. Users will supposedly be able to converse with the new Siri, not just give it orders.

If true, this will let Apple compete directly against Android and Windows computers with built-in AI chatbots.

Some AI apps leak loads of your data — see the worst offenders

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AI-generated image of a dark server room with glowing computers, with the words,
Now you can find out if your new AI apps leak your personal data all over the place.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

New security research repository Firehound uncovered widespread data leaks affecting millions of iPhone users who downloaded AI-powered apps from the App Store.

If you’ve downloaded AI apps lately, as millions of others have, you might want to check to see if they made Firehound’s list.

You got Google in my Siri! And a fold in my iPhone! [Cult of Mac podcast No. 3]

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An AI-generated comic book-style image of a person in a laboratory with their brain exposed and lightning bolts, used to illustrate a story about Ciri getting an AI upgrade powered by Google Gemini, as discussed on the Cult of Mac podcast #3.
Using Google Gemini to juice Siri is a shocker!
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: It’s finally official — Siri is getting a long-awaited AI brain transplant, courtesy of Google Gemini.

We discuss the pros and cons of the deal, but more importantly, we express our sincere hope that Siri will actually work in the future.

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • The soon-to-launch Apple Creator Studio software bundle seems like an unbelievable deal — especially if you’re a student or teacher.
  • OpenAI’s first piece of Jony Ive-designed hardware sounds like a legit head-scratcher. Can it really compete with AirPods? It’s anybody’s guess, but we’re not big fans of betting against the former Apple design god. Lots of unanswered questions remain, but hey, at least now we know what an egg stone is!
  • And finally, Griffin wraps up the show with a hands-on demo of a 3D-printed mockup of the rumored folding iPhone. If the leaked specs prove true, this device is going to be a strange one. We’ve got plenty of questions (and not a few concerns).

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video stream, embedded below.