Less than a month after its initial announcement, ChatGPT has started rolling out ads for users on its free and Go tiers. For now, the ads will only appear for 18+ users in the US.
With this move, ChatGPT becomes the first major AI chatbot to introduce advertising.
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:
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.
iOS 26 is the most controversial iPhone update in many years. That includes dislike of the Liquid Glass design, but there are also plenty of reports of performance problems. That makes iOS 27 such an important update — Apple needs to fix bugs and maybe even find a way to deal with those unsatisfied with the new look of the operating system.
Early reports indicate Apple made fixing iOS 26 problems a focus of the next major update. But which models get iOS 27? And who gets left out in the cold? Here’s what we know now.
Apple TV continued its awards season momentum at the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards Sunday night, taking home wins for breakout comedy series The Studio, acclaimed documentary series Mr. Scorsese and commercial “I’m Not Remarkable.”
Reports of Apple launching new M5 Pro-powered MacBook Pros have been circulating for a while now. With shipments of the M4 Pro/Max models delayed by a few weeks, all signs point to an imminent launch.
But exactly when will Apple make its move? Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has now offered a more concrete timeline.
With Apple reportedly redesigning the MacBook Pro, it’s time to bring back the beloved glowing Apple logo on the back of the laptop.
Not only is it an iconic look, reviving a signature feature from the MacBooks of old would make a statement that Apple has returned to making laptops as good as the ones made back in the days when you could easily recognize a MacBook from across the room by its glowing Apple logo.
Apple built a reputation for meticulous design consistency, but a growing number of users keep noticing cracks in that polished facade. A recent social media discussion highlights how longtime Apple fans wonder why delete buttons vary so much across iOS apps.
“Steve Jobs would be absolutely livid about the state of Apple UIs today,” wrote one irate user about the steadily less-consistent state of the iOS user interface.
Apple pulled back on its ambitious plans for an AI-powered virtual health coach service, shifting focus to integrating planned features gradually into its existing Health app, according to a new report.
Apple will reportedly unveil the iPhone 17e on February 19, exactly a year after the iPhone 16e and less than two weeks from now. It will apparently announce the device through a press release, with no press event planned.
The refresh focus will seemingly focus on incremental upgrades rather than major design changes.
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.
When it comes to the best smartphone battery life, nothing beats the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That’s the judgement of a comparison of 35 smartphones from a range of companies. But the Apple model that comes in second might surprise you.
Not a single Samsung model showed up on the Top 10 list, but OnePlus did fairly well.
Apple currently weighs the option of using a more durable display protection solution for its first foldable iPhone, according to a new report. The tougher film would offer better scratch resistance than what Samsung currently uses in its Galaxy Z Fold and other devices.
Anker Solix adds an ambitious new entry to the residential energy storage market with the Solix E10 whole-home backup system, the company said Wednesday. Anker’s direct challenge to established players like Tesla’s Powerwall, the new system offers homeowners multiple ways to maintain power during outages while potentially reducing energy costs.
Logitech’s latest gaming headset aims to deliver premium audio performance without the premium price tag, the company said Tuesday. The G325 Lightspeed wireless gaming headset enters a competitive gaming audio market at just $79.99, positioning itself as an affordable alternative to higher-priced options — while maintaining Logitech G series quality.
Update: Apple Arcade subscribers can now get access to one of gaming’s most legendary franchises — Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition, arriving on the service Thursday. It’s a first for Apple Arcade, though it joins some other civ- and sim- game options on the App Store.
And other new titles join it at the same time on Apple Arcade: the Retrocade collection of classic arcade games, the whimsical adventure Felicity’s Door and the I Love Hue Too+ puzzle game.
UPDATE: iOS 26.3 is out now! And on exactly the day Cult of Mac predicted. (Read our news article: iOS 26.3 brings these 3 changes to your iPhone.)
Apple seeded the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to beta testers on Wednesday, which means anyone eager to get their hands on it should mark February 11 on their calendar.
The macOS Tahoe 26.3 Release Candidate also just went out, which should please Mac users. It means a MacBook Pro with faster processor options can soon hit the market.
iPad shipments worldwide shot up a whopping 16.5% in the last quarter of 2025, according to a market analysis firm. Apple set a new record — it shipped more tablets in Q4 than in any previous quarter.
Not only does iPad outsell every other competitor, but Apple’s tablet also beat its top four rivals’ combined shipments last quarter.
Oddly enough, Apple CarPlay could make its way to the water in the coming years. Sea-Doo confirms it’s look at the technology for future high-end personal watercraft models akin to Jet Skis, according to a new report.
The new Xcode 26.3 release candidate introduces support for agentic coding, Apple said Wednesday. It allows developers to work with AI coding agents like Anthropic’s Claude Agent and OpenAI’s Codex directly within the development environment.
“Agentic coding supercharges productivity and creativity, streamlining the development workflow so developers can focus on innovation,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations.
Even vibe-coding beginners will have an easier time of it because Xcode can now build apps pretty much by itself, some devs say.
The free Apple Sports app just added golf to its growing list of supported sports.
Golfers can get live scores on their iPhone for all official PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events, including the majors. And the fun starts this weekend with the PGA’s WM Phoenix Open.
Apple TV showcased its ambitious 2026 slate Wednesday at an exclusive press event, revealing a packed calendar of new and returning series, original films and expanded live sports coverage including Formula 1 racing, Major League Soccer and Friday Night Baseball.
The streamer plans to release new originals every week in 2026, headlined by the highly anticipated fourth season of Ted Lasso this summer. Watch trailers below.
A conspiracy theory argues that Apple does everything it can to force people to buy new iPhones. That’s Grade A certified bullplop, and I can prove it. How? Apple recently released iOS updates for every single iPhone going back to 2013.
If you still own a 12-year-old iPhone 5s, it just got an upgrade to iOS 12.5.8, so you can continue to use it for years to come. So tell us again how Apple hates old iPhones?
Airversa’a new QliQ Smart Button, a Thread-enabled controller designed specifically for the Apple Home ecosystem, lets you launch up to nine automations or scenes through its three buttons, according to the company.
There’s good news Tuesday for those excited about the first MacBook Pro with an OLED display: A new report pegs the laptop’s launch for this fall. Some previous leaks indicated the device might not reach customers until next year.
Beyond the OLED screen — which should make the display noticeably better-looking — the 2026 MacBook Pro is rumored to feature a significant redesign, including a touchscreen.
Apple’s satellite connectivity journey began as a lifesaving emergency feature with the iPhone 14 in 2022. But the company’s ambitions go far beyond distress signals to more advanced iPhone satellite features. Experts see a dramatic expansion of satellite capabilities coming to transform how we think about smartphone connectivity. iPhone 18 in 2026 and later handsets could see satellite features evolve from emergency backup to everyday uses.