Apple might use Google servers to store data for its upgraded AI Siri

The Verge

Published about 4 hours ago

Apple might use Google servers to store data for its upgraded AI Siri

The Verge · Mar 2, 2026 · Collected from RSS

Summary

Apple has asked Google to look into "setting up servers" for a new version of Siri that's Gemini-powered and meets Apple's privacy requirements, The Information reports. Apple had already announced in January that Google's Gemini AI models would help power the upgraded version of Siri it delayed last year, but The Information's report indicates Apple might lean even more on Google so it can catch up in AI. The original partnership announcement said that "the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," and that the models would "help power future Apple Intelligence features," incl … Read the full story at The Verge.

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Jay Peters is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.Apple has asked Google to look into “setting up servers” for a new version of Siri that’s Gemini-powered and meets Apple’s privacy requirements, The Information reports. Apple had already announced in January that Google’s Gemini AI models would help power the upgraded version of Siri it delayed last year, but The Information’s report indicates Apple might lean even more on Google so it can catch up in AI.The original partnership announcement said that “the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology,” and that the models would “help power future Apple Intelligence features,” including “a more personalized Siri.” While the announcement noted that Apple Intelligence would “continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute,” it didn’t specify if the new Siri would run on Google’s cloud.Much of The Information’s article also dives deep into the history of Apple’s own cloud computing and data center efforts. As noted in the report, Apple has generally been more conservative in its infrastructure spending, especially compared to rivals like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which are making massive investments to meet the needs of AI demand. Apple’s AI features so far haven’t proven to be very popular, with just 10 percent of its Private Cloud Compute capacity in use on average, The Information says.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jay Peters

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The Vergeabout 2 hours ago

Anthropic upgrades Claude’s memory to attract AI switchers

Anthropic is making it easier to switch to its Claude AI from other chatbots with an update that brings Claude's memory feature to users on the free plan, along with a new prompt and dedicated tool for importing data from other chatbots. These upgrades could allow users who have been using rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini to quickly copy the data their preferred AI has collected on them and bring it over to Anthropic's chatbot. That way, they don't have to "start over" teaching Claude the context and history their previous chatbot already knows. The option to import and export memories from Claude has been available since O … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Vergeabout 2 hours ago

Apple’s cheapest AirPods have hit $89

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The Vergeabout 4 hours ago

How the new iPhone 17E stacks up against Apple’s pricier phones

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Mastodon now has a button for sharing content from other websites

Sharing content to Mastodon is getting easier with the addition of a universal "Share to Mastodon" button for the decentralized social media platform. Announced on Monday, the widget allows users to share content on any Mastodon server by connecting your Mastodon account and redirecting you to the server that account is on. The blog post announcing the feature also explains that the tool "works entirely in your browser: there is no tracking data, and it does not store any information on the server." Previously, a "share" widget wasn't available on Mastodon mainly due to the technical challenges that come with the platform's decentralized d … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Vergeabout 6 hours ago

You could be an influencer without even realizing it

A similar AI shopping feature on TikTok. | The Verge In late February, Puck reported on a strange case: An influencer with more than a million followers was inadvertently promoting products on Instagram. On some of Julia Berolzheimer's posts, a "Shop the look" button hovered in the corner. When followers clicked it, they were fed similar items to what Berolzheimer was wearing. Her job is to promote clothing, accessories, and other products to her followers, so having links to specific items isn't strange. What was odd was that she hadn't placed the links there herself - Instagram added them without her consent. The product links led followers not to the actual items Berolzheimer was promotin … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Vergeabout 6 hours ago

Donut Lab’s solid-state battery can handle the (extreme) heat, test says

Finnish startup Donut Lab is out to prove that its solid-state battery is all that it claims to be. Last week, the test was about fast charging. This week is where things get hot. Like the first test, this one was also conducted by state-owned VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The team set out to determine how well Donut Lab's cells held up under extreme heat, which has been known to adversely affect traditional lithium-ion batteries. The results show that not only can the Finnish startup's solid-state battery still discharge energy under conditions of up to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), it actually gains capacity. … Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple might use Google servers to store data for its upgraded AI Siri

Full Article

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Anthropic upgrades Claude’s memory to attract AI switchers

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Anthropic upgrades Claude’s memory to attract AI switchers

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The Vergeabout 2 hours ago
Anthropic upgrades Claude’s memory to attract AI switchers
Anthropic is making it easier to switch to its Claude AI from other chatbots with an update that brings Claude's memory feature to users on the free plan, along with a new prompt and dedicated tool for importing data from other chatbots. These upgrades could allow users who have been using rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini to quickly copy the data their preferred AI has collected on them and bring it over to Anthropic's chatbot. That way, they don't have to "start over" teaching Claude the context and history their previous chatbot already knows. The option to import and export memories from Claude has been available since O … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Vergeabout 2 hours ago
Apple’s cheapest AirPods have hit $89
The AirPods 4 are the best entry-level AirPods yet. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge It’s a good day for Apple fans on a budget. Not only did the company introduce a new budget phone, its entry-level AirPods 4 are also on sale. Right now, you can snag a pair of Apple’s AirPods 4 starting at just $89 ($30 off) at Walmart. The model with active noise-cancellation are also down to their second best price to date, going for $119 ($60 off) at Amazon and Walmart. AirPods 4 Where to Buy: $129 $89 at Walmart $179 $119 at Amazon (with ANC) $179 $119 at Walmart (with ANC) The AirPods 4 are the best and most comfortable entry-level earbuds from Apple yet. They deliver fuller bass along with clearer, more detailed sound than previous models, and even now match the AirPods Pro in terms of voice call quality. They also boast an upgraded IP54 rating for water and dust resistance, meaning they can withstand light rain and sweaty workouts. As with other Apple headphones, they also play nicely with Apple devices, offering conveniences like automatic switching, access to hands-free Siri, and Apple TV support. If you’re willing to spend $30 extra, the ANC model offers all the same features while also doing a surprisingly good job of tuning out the world. They can’t rival the AirPods Pro, but they still dramatically cut down on ambient and low-frequency noise on planes and in offices, particularly with music playing. The ANC earbuds also offer a transparency mode that sounds natural, along with support for tracking via Apple’s Find My App, a wireless charging case, and live translation through an iOS 26 update.

The Vergeabout 4 hours ago
How the new iPhone 17E stacks up against Apple’s pricier phones
Unlike its predecessor, the iPhone 17E supports MagSafe. | Image: Apple The iPhone 17 lineup now has a “budget” option. Announced this week, the iPhone 17E will hit stores on Wednesday, March 11th, starting at $599, with preorders opening on March 4th. The 6.1-inch phone joins the rest of Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup, which includes the iPhone 17 ($799), the more powerful iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099), and the iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,199), as well as the ultra-thin iPhone Air ($999). Unlike last year’s iPhone 16E, the 17E features MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging, along with the faster A19 chip found in the iPhone 17 and twice as much base storage (256GB vs. 128GB). It also features a sharper, more durable display, retains support for Apple Intelligence, and includes a 48-megapixel “fusion” camera that enables 2x telephoto shots, all of which bring it closer to Apple’s more premium phones. But at $599, the 17E doesn’t include all of the bells and whistles found in the rest of Apple’s current iPhone lineup. For example, it only has a 6.1-inch 60Hz display — the smallest display of any iPhone 17 series phone — and lacks features like an always-on display and Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped cutout that shows info, like ride-share updates, at a glance. It’s also noticeably dimmer, with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. Camera hardware is another differentiator. While the 17E, Air, and standard iPhone 17 all share a 48-megapixel main sensor, the iPhone 17 has a dedicated ultrawide camera, which also enables macro photography for close-up shots. The 17 and Air also offer an 18-megapixel front-facing camera — the 17E only has a 12-megapixel shooter — which could translate to sharper selfies and clearer video calls. The Pro and Pro Max models expand further with more advanced camera arrays, including the addition of dedicated telephoto cameras. Plus, all except the 17E include the Camera Control button, which is designed to help people quickly launch the camera and adjust various settin

The Vergeabout 4 hours ago
Mastodon now has a button for sharing content from other websites
Sharing content to Mastodon is getting easier with the addition of a universal "Share to Mastodon" button for the decentralized social media platform. Announced on Monday, the widget allows users to share content on any Mastodon server by connecting your Mastodon account and redirecting you to the server that account is on. The blog post announcing the feature also explains that the tool "works entirely in your browser: there is no tracking data, and it does not store any information on the server." Previously, a "share" widget wasn't available on Mastodon mainly due to the technical challenges that come with the platform's decentralized d … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Vergeabout 6 hours ago
You could be an influencer without even realizing it
A similar AI shopping feature on TikTok. | The Verge In late February, Puck reported on a strange case: An influencer with more than a million followers was inadvertently promoting products on Instagram. On some of Julia Berolzheimer's posts, a "Shop the look" button hovered in the corner. When followers clicked it, they were fed similar items to what Berolzheimer was wearing. Her job is to promote clothing, accessories, and other products to her followers, so having links to specific items isn't strange. What was odd was that she hadn't placed the links there herself - Instagram added them without her consent. The product links led followers not to the actual items Berolzheimer was promotin … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Vergeabout 6 hours ago
Donut Lab’s solid-state battery can handle the (extreme) heat, test says
Finnish startup Donut Lab is out to prove that its solid-state battery is all that it claims to be. Last week, the test was about fast charging. This week is where things get hot. Like the first test, this one was also conducted by state-owned VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The team set out to determine how well Donut Lab's cells held up under extreme heat, which has been known to adversely affect traditional lithium-ion batteries. The results show that not only can the Finnish startup's solid-state battery still discharge energy under conditions of up to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), it actually gains capacity. … Read the full story at The Verge.