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If you opt into the test, you’ll see the option to generate an Audio Overview based on some of your searches.

If you opt into the test, you’ll see the option to generate an Audio Overview based on some of your searches.

Google isrolling out a testthat puts its AI-powered Audio Overviews on the first page of search results on mobile. The experiment, which you canenable in Labs, will let you generate an AI podcast-style discussion for certain queries.

If you search for something like, “How do noise cancellation headphones work?”, Google will display a button beneath the “People also ask” module that says, “Generate Audio Overview.” Once you click the button, it will take up to 40 seconds to generate an Audio Overview, according to Google.

The completed Audio Overview will appear in a small player embedded within your search results, where you can play, pause, mute, and adjust the playback speed of the clip. Similar to Audio Overviews on NotebookLM and Gemini, this one also features two AI-generated “hosts” who enthusiastically discuss the topic you want to learn more about. You’ll also find links to some of the sources used by Audio Overview directly below the playback bar in Search.

Right now, Audio Overviews in Search is only available in English in the US. Google has started putting Audio Overviews in more placessince the tool launched last year, allowing users to generate audio discussions based on notes,Gemini’s deep research,files in Google Docs, and more.

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Plus, we found deals on the Apple Pencil USB-C and Anker’s 14-port Prime TB5 Docking Station.

Plus, we found deals on the Apple Pencil USB-C and Anker’s 14-port Prime TB5 Docking Station.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.See our ethics statement.

If you’re looking to declutter the cables on your desk or nightstand and keep all of your devices charged,Belkin’s Qi2-ready BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 wireless chargerwill help you get the job done. Right now, it’s on sale for $99.99 ($30 off) atAmazonin black and white color schemes. That’s both its best price to date and the cheapest it has sold for in months.

Belkin’s triple charging stand achieves 15W MagSafe wireless iPhone charging speeds and keeps your phone and Apple Watch elevated for easy reading.

This Qi2-certified charger can quickly charge MagSafe compatible iPhones, delivering up to 15W of power. What’s more, it also supports fast charging for Apple Watch models starting with the Series 7 via a dedicated 5W puck. There’s another 5W Qi pad at its base that’s ideal for topping off a second device that supports wireless charging, like a pair of AirPods, or an Android phone. However you mix and match devices, it can charge all three pads simultaneously without compromising speed, a feature we expect from good charging stations.

Beyond charging, the BoostCharge Pro also functions as a sturdy, upright stand—perfect for quickly glancing at notifications or turning your iPhone into a nightstand display. It’s compatible withStandBy modeon iOS, so you can use your phone as a clock, calendar, or photo frame while it charges.

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Nintendo’s bigSplatoon 3update for the Switch 2 makes the game slicker and more stylish than it has ever been.

Nintendo’s bigSplatoon 3update for the Switch 2 makes the game slicker and more stylish than it has ever been.

Splatoon 3already looked phenomenal on the original Switch, in a way that seemed to defy the console’s hardware limitations. The game’s paint-slicked visuals were gorgeous, and its chaotic battles were a testament to how well the Switch could run software that was fine-tuned to make the best of its specs. What was most impressive, though, was the waySplatoon 3kept refreshing itself for years after its initial 2022 release with a steady stream of new clothes, weapons, stages, and a nifty DLC expansion.

Splatoon 3felt like it had reached its zenith on the original Switch — so much so that a full-on sequel seemed like the franchise’s logical next step as Nintendo prepared to release the Switch 2. But thanks to an unexpected update,Splatoon 3plays like a slicker, sleeker, and more modern shooter on the new console. And while the improvements aren’t quite as dramatic as what we saw withFortnite, they’re big enough to makeSplatoon 3feel like it’s more than capable of holding down the fort while Nintendo focuses on developing whatever’s next.

While battles withinSplatoon 3have always maxed out at 60fps, the first thing that jumps out about the game post-update is how that high framerate can now also be seen basically everywhere you guide your Inkling character. In the past, nonmatch locations like Splatsville, Inkopolis, and the Grand Festival Grounds never looked bad, per se. But there was a roughness to characters’ animations as they walked around and a stiffness to the way the environment moved that made those places feel like they were trying hard to not push the original Switch past its limits.

After the new Switch 2 update, which also bumps the game’s resolution up, everything in Inkopolis flows with a delightful slickness that makes the place feel alive. Inklings’ steps and idling poses are still measured and slow, but there is a gracefulness to them now that made me pay closer attention to people’s avatars. And while the update doesn’t bring any drastic changes toSplatoon 3’s character models, you can clearly see the fine details of their stylish hypebeast fits and the way light interacts with the glossy, reflective surfaces of their skin.

Better-looking NPCs hanging out in lobbies might not seem like a big deal, but it’s an important part of theSplatoonexperience because of the way most of the characters you see in places like Inkopolis are actually other players’ avatars. The added visual polish works to remind you thatSplatoon3is very much a community-focused game that still has a dedicated playerbase, and as I walked around, it was great seeing so many higher-resolution characters sharing messages about how they were enjoying the update.

You can also feel how much more horsepower the Switch 2 is working with in how quicklySplatoon 3now breezes through its loading screens as you’re getting ready to dive into a match. Once you’re actually in a battle, you can really start to get a sense of how the update impactsSplatoon 3’s core gameplay on the Switch 2 and why, for people still playing on the original Switch, Nintendo decided to strip out some of the background visual elements in certain competitive modes.

On the whole, regular PvP matches ran every bit as well at 60fps as they did on the first Switch, but you can see that background elements in the far off distance, like the jellyfish spectators, now move much more smoothly. It stands to reason that Nintendo chose not to drastically change howSplatoon 3battles run on the Switch 2 so as not to put players on the original Switch at an unfair disadvantage. That’s also probably why, after the update, some of the background elements in the Splat Zones / Tower Control /Rainmaker / Clam Blitz modes have been removed on the first Switch. In my experience, this didn’t really change all that much because you’re meant to be focused on painting the ground and splatting your enemies. But those changes likely help the Switch dedicate more of its energy to displaying the important things well.

Even when there’s a horde of enemies swarming in Salmon Run mode, their animations are much, much smoother, which actually makes it easier to keep track of what’s going on as matches become more hectic. It was still almost impossible to get my teammates to pull it together when a Horrorboros showed up and started hurling paint bombs at us, but that felt like the sort of issue that might be more easily addressed in a follow-up game that makes use of theSwitch 2’s voice chat feature.

For both consoles, the update also introduces a slew of remixed weapons. Giving standard weapons, like the Aerospray, different sub-weapons has always been a core part ofSplatoon, and the new kits are essentially an invitation to try out your old favorites with a couple of new tricks attached that encourage unique play styles.For longtimeSplatoon 3players, everything about the update really serves as a reminder of how much fun the game has always been. But it also feels like Nintendo is making an effort to bring more players into the fold ahead ofSplatoon Raiders’ launch. And, as nice as it would have been to have a newSplatoontitle for the Switch 2’s launch, it’s fantastic to see Nintendo making moves that benefit the entire Switch family as a whole.

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With four different models to pick between, here’s how to land on the right AirPods for you.

With four different models to pick between, here’s how to land on the right AirPods for you.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.See our ethics statement.

Whether you’re buying your first pair of AirPods or replacing a well-used older pair, it’s easy to understand why so many iPhone owners prefer Apple’s earbuds and headphones over other options. Apple has spent years gradually adding new features that work best — and sometimesonlywork at all — within the company’s walled garden. These convenient tricks include audio sharing, automatic switching between Apple’s various devices, Apple TV integration, and more.

There are four AirPods models to choose from, each with a distinct appeal and upside. You likely already know whether you’re more interested in earbuds or over-ear headphones, so that’s the first divide. In the case of headphones, your only choice is the AirPods Max. But in the earbuds category, Apple has three options: the AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and the plain old AirPods 4.

Much better noise cancellationImproved sound quality and clarityUnrivaled hearing health features

Unchanged designSound is better but not top tier

If you want the earbuds that guarantee you’ll get the latest and greatest software features from Apple, the second-generation AirPods Pro should be at the top of your list. They offer the whole gamut of ecosystem exclusives. And if you’re the type of person to misplace things, you’ll be thankful that the earbuds’ case has a U1 chip for pinpoint location finding. So whenever they go missing, you can track right where they are in the room using Apple’s Find My app.

The AirPods Pro deliver noise cancellation that’s effective at tamping down the volume of your surroundings in all but the most hectic environments. Their sound quality is on another level compared to the regular AirPods — helped in no small part by the in-ear seal you get from their silicone ear tips.

In 2024, Apple introduced three major hearing health features, including a hearing test, automatic hearing protection, and the option to use the AirPods Pro as clinical-gradehearing aidsif you have mild or moderate hearing loss. No other AirPods (including the AirPods Max) offer this functionality, so it definitely sets the Pros apart. And the same can be said of their volume controls; you just swipe on the stems to raise or lower the loudness of your music, which is a handy advantage that the similar-looking AirPods 4 lack.

Upgraded sound qualityVoice isolation can noticeably improve call clarityDeep Apple ecosystem integration

No wireless chargingNo built-in speaker on the caseNo proper multipoint

But not everyone likes the way ear tips feel. Even with venting and the other measures Apple has taken to improve comfort and reduce that clogged-up sensation, some people just prefer the regular, one-size-fits-most AirPods. Their open design means you’re never cut off from the outside world. The AirPods Pro have an impressive transparency mode, but the AirPods 4 don’t need to pipe in your surroundings; you can always hear what’s happening around you.

Apple sells two versions of the AirPods 4. No matter which you choose, you’ll get the same sound quality, microphone performance on voice calls, and IP54 water resistance. (The latter also applies to the AirPods Pro.) The more expensive pair features active noise cancellation and a more advanced charging case. You might be surprised by how well the noise cancellation works even with an unsealed design; it reduces office ambience and annoying hums, but louder sounds and voices still cut through the ANC. As for the case, the pricier AirPods 4 include wireless charging and Find My integration.

If you’re really interested in noise-canceling earbuds, you should consider saving a bit more and stepping up to the AirPods Pro 2. They offer much better audio quality, stronger ANC, and a better experience. I’d only steer you to thenoise-canceling AirPods 4if you’rereallyopposed to ear tips.

High-luxury designTerrific, balanced sound qualityVery effective noise cancellationDependable and foolproof controlsSpatial audio for immersive entertainment

Heavier than many competitorsNo 3.5mm jackWired listening requires $35 cableCase is an abominationLacks latest AirPods Pro features

I’ve gone back and forth recommending Apple’s $549 AirPods Max over the last few years. They have a standout design, but the good looks and premium feel come at the cost of weight. These headphones are considerably heavier than most competitors and can get fatiguing over extended use. But Apple has also made smart choices: the fabric ear cups on the AirPods Max are much more pleasant in warm weather than the pleather you’ll find on Bose and Sony products, and won’t get your ears sweaty.

The AirPods Max provide impressive noise cancellation, and the transparency mode is clearer and more natural-sounding than any other set of headphones on the market. As for sound, Apple’s headphones have a pleasant sound signature that works well across a wide range of genres. They’re easy to listen to with an impressive soundstage for closed-back headphones.

You lose some features — like conversation awareness and adaptive audio — that are included on the AirPods Pro; this is a side effect of the AirPods Max using Apple’s older H1 chip. But the company recentlyadded lossless audio over USB-C, meaning these headphones offer the richest audio fidelity of the whole lineup.

We spend dozens of hours using AirPods products for our initial reviews, and that testing extends for weeks and months afterward. That’s where we assess sound quality, mic performance, and overall reliability. Where applicable, we try the active noise cancellation in a wide range of different environments and have put the hearing protection of the AirPods Pro through the paces at concerts. We also closely examine ecosystem benefits and how the AirPods and Apple’s other products work together.

Update, June 13th:Adjusted prices and availability.

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The film will be released in theaters in 2027.

The film will be released in theaters in 2027.

Spaceballs, which was first released nearly 40 years ago, is getting a sequel in 2027 from Amazon MGM Studios.

ASpaceballs 2announcement trailerposted Thursdaydoesn’t have any solid details besides the date, though it does poke fun at the entertainment industry’s obsession with franchises and spinoffs by listing many of them out. (I particularly liked “DCU attempt Number 1” and “DCU attempt Number 2.”)

Mel Brooks, who played Yogurt (a Yoda parody) in the original film, also makes an appearance. “After 40 years, we asked, ‘what do the fans want?’” he says. “But instead, we’re making this movie.” The film’s logline,according toVariety, is “A Non-Prequel Non-Reboot Sequel Part Two but with Reboot Elements Franchise Expansion Film.”

Brooks will be reprising the role of Yogurt, and Bill Pullman and Rick Moranis will be back as Lone Starr and Dark Helmet,Deadlinereports. Lewis Pullman (Bill Pullman’s son), Josh Gad, and Keke Palmer are also set to star in the film.

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You can’t have everything at this price, but you can get a great smartphone. Whether you want an iPhone, a 120Hz screen, or water resistance, you’ve got options.

You can’t have everything at this price, but you can get a great smartphone. Whether you want an iPhone, a 120Hz screen, or water resistance, you’ve got options.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.See our ethics statement.

Some of us take a kind of “I eat to live” rather than an “I live to eat” approach to gadgets. They’re tools that help you get things done, not something you want to invest a lot of time or money in. If that’s you — and there’s no judgment here from a certifiable gadget nerd — then you can probably think of more worthwhile ways to spend $1,000 than on a phone.

Budget phones to the rescue. These devices are roughly $500 or under, though not all of them, and they’re more capable than ever. You won’t get all the bells and whistles, but you will save a little money to spend on, I don’t know, actual bells and whistles. It’s your world.

There’s no shortcut to properly testing a phone; I put my personal SIM card (physical or otherwise) in each phone I review and live with it for a minimum of one full week. I set up each phone from scratch, load it up with my apps, and go about living my life — stress testing the battery, using GPS navigation on my bike while streaming radio, taking rapid-fire portrait mode photos of my kid — everything I can throw at it. Starting over with a new phone every week either sounds like a dream or your personal hell, depending on how Into Phones you are. For me, switching has becomeso routine that it’s mostly painless.

At least a couple of years of OS upgrades and, ideally, three years of security updates. There’s no point in buying even a cheap phone if you have to replace it after just a couple of years because it stopped getting security patches.

Since you look at it roughly two thousand times a day, your phone’s screen is one place you shouldn’t compromise. An OLED has richer contrast and color than an LCD, and the big screens on today’s phones really need at least a 1080p resolution. Faster refresh rates like 90Hz and even 120Hz are becoming more common on budget phone screens, but for my money, a smooth-scrolling LCD doesn’t look as nice as an OLED with a standard refresh rate.

If you plan to hang onto your phone for a while, you’ll want enough storage space to accommodate all the system files, photos, and videos you’ll accumulate over the years. Ideally you’ll get at least 128GB built in.

Upgrades like telephoto cameras and optical image stabilization are rare in the under-$500 class, but you can still expect good, basic performance in good lighting from any modern smartphone. Low light is trickier. Phones in this class should offer a night mode to help with non-moving subjects in very dim light. And there are no bonus points awarded for adding extra macro and depth cameras to pad out the rear camera array — those 2- and 5-megapixel sensors are pretty much useless.

What compromises can you expect from a budget phone? Some combination of the following: slower processors, less storage, and worse cameras than flagship phones, almost across the board. Many have lower-resolution screens and water resistance is often less robust than on a pricier phone.

Reliable performanceGood, if limited, camera systemIt’s the cheapest new iPhone you can buy

No MagSafe$599 feels like $100 too muchNo ultrawide

Screen:6.1-inch, 1170p OLED /Processor:A18Cameras:48-megapixel f/1.6 with OIS, 12-megapixel selfie /Charging:20W wired, 7.5W wireless /Weather-resistance rating:IP68

If I was making this recommendation to you face-to-face, you’d hear a heavy sigh. Yes, this is the cheapest new iPhone Apple makes. Yes, it comes with most of the things that make an iPhone an iPhone. But it comes with some significant tradeoffs — some of which make more sense than others — and it’s not exactlycheap.If you’re amenable to last year’s model or a refurbished iPhone 14, one of those might actually be a better option. But for an unfussy person who just wants a new iPhone for the least amount of money, the 16E will do the trick.

There’s a single 48-megapixel rear camera on the back, meaning there’s no ultrawide like on the regular 16. That’s an understandable tradeoff — so is the use of the older “notch” design rather than the Dynamic Island. But it’s harder to understand why Apple left out MagSafe here — that’s the ring of magnets built into the back of virtually every other iPhone since 2020. The 16E still supports wireless charging, but it can’t take advantage of the ecosystem of magnetic chargers and accessories on its own; you’ll need to add a magnetic case. This is a silly omission, and Apple should feel bad about it.

Another heavy sigh: the 16E supports Apple Intelligence, which you won’t get if you opt for an iPhone 15 or 14. Should you care? It’s really hard to say. What exists of Apple Intelligence so faris underwhelmingand the most interesting bitswon’t arrive anytime soon. If you want to future-proof your purchase as much as possible, the 16E will be ready for Apple’s AI. But don’t buy one expecting a life-changing experience now. It’s just an iPhone after all, for better and worse, and right now it’s the best price you’ll find on a brand-new one.

Robust IP68 ratingSeven years of software updatesBrighter, bigger screen

Missing a couple of AI featuresAI is occasionally handy, usually weird

Screen:6.3-inch, 1080p OLED, 120Hz /Processor:Tensor G4Cameras:48-megapixel f/1.7 with OIS, 13-megapixel ultrawide, 13-megapixel selfie /Battery:5,100mAh /Charging:23W wired, 7.5W wireless /Weather-resistance rating:IP68

Google’s Pixel A-series phones have been my go-to recommendation for a cheap Android phone for years, but there was still room for improvement. With the 9A, Google made some modest tweaks that make it even easier to recommend — and at $499, the price is right.

The phone uses a Tensor G4 chipset that doesn’t run as hot as some of its predecessors, and performance is reliable. The 6.3-inch OLED screen is a little bigger and a bit brighter than last year’s, which makes a difference when you use the phone outside. Durability also got a small boost up to IP68, which means it can survive a drop in deeper water than the IP67-rated Pixel 8A.

The 9A’s camera is fine, though it comes up short against the rest of the Pixel 9 series in low light. Portrait mode could be better, too, and if you care a lot about image quality, then that might be a good reason to consider stepping up to a Pixel 9. But it does the trick for everyday snaps, and for the price, the 9A’s better qualities outweigh its shortcomings by a wide margin.

Excellent battery lifeGreat screen for the priceSix years of security updates

No wireless chargingOnly splash-resistantFewer OS updates than Google and Samsung

Screen:6.78-inch, 1264 x 2780 120Hz OLED /Processor:Snapdragon 8 Gen3Cameras:50-megapixel f/1.8 with OIS, 50-megapixel 2x telephoto, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 16-megapixel selfie /Battery:6,000mAh /Charging:80W wired /Weather-resistance rating:IP65

The OnePlus 13R isn’t quite as well-rounded as my pick for the best overall budget Android phone, the Pixel 9A. It’s also a little pricier at $599 — though we’ve seen it at $499 for extended periods of time — but for some people the 13R’s upgrades will make it a better choice. It comes with one of the bestbigscreens in its class, and lots of people love a big screen. The 13R also offers very strong battery performance; unless you’re a power user, you can probably manage two full days on a single charge.

There’s also very fast charging with the included charger, though you won’t find wireless charging at any speed. The 13R also lacks full water resistance; it should hold up fine against spray and rain showers, but it isn’t rated to withstand full immersion. Plenty of people won’t find those omissions bothersome, but they make it harder to recommend to a general audience — especially at a higher price than the Pixel 9A.

Bright, 120Hz OLED displayRobust IP67 dust and water resistanceFive years of security updates

No wireless chargingUnremarkable camera systemSo-so performance

Screen:6.6-inch, 1080p resolution, 120Hz OLED /Processor:Exynos 1380Cameras:50-megapixel f/1.8 with OIS, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro, 13-megapixel selfie /Battery:5,000mAh /Charging:25W wired /Weather-resistance rating:IP67

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G comes with surprisingly strong specs for its $399 price. They’re the kind of features you won’t really spot from the outside, but they’re important, particularly its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Unlike virtually every other phone at this price, the A35 5G is built to withstand water immersion, so you don’t need to sweat it if your phone lands in a toilet bowl or puddle.

Here’s another unexciting spec: four years of OS updates and five years of security updates. That’s not the very best in the budget category — the Pixel 9A takes that honor with seven years of updates — but it’s much better than the two or three years we typically see in phones well under $500.

The camera is lackluster; it’s fine in bright light but struggles in dim and mixed indoor lighting. It doesn’t have the strongest processing performance you can find under $500, either, and the Samsung-made Exynos processor occasionally stutters when quickly bouncing between tasks. I was horrified — horrified! — when I accidentally texted my husband one of the automatically generated replies because it popped up at the last moment as I was trying to tap on something else. These things don’t happen when everything loads quickly.

But overall, it’s a compelling package — especially with a big, crowd-pleasing OLED display and strong battery performance. If you’re a light user and not fussy about camera quality, the A35 5G offers some upgrades that make a real difference in the long term.

Update, June 13th:Updated prices and availability. Samsung’s Galaxy A35 5G is currentlyout of stock at Amazon and Samsung, while Best Buy has it marked down on clearance.

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Wojcicki, a co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, is buying ‘substantially all’ of the company’s assets through a nonprofit.

Wojcicki, a co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, is buying ‘substantially all’ of the company’s assets through a nonprofit.

23andMe co-founder and former CEO Anne Wojcicki is set to buy back the company after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year. On Friday, 23andMe and TTAM Research Institute, a nonprofit public benefit corporation run by Wojcicki,announced in a press release thatTTAM would be buying “substantially all of the Company’s assets” for $305 million.

As of last month, New York-based biotech company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals was set to buy 23andMefor $256 million. But the new purchase agreement with TTAM is “the result of a final round of bidding that occurred earlier today between TTAM and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals,” according to the release. Wojcicki made the “unsolicited offer” earlier this month,according toThe Wall Street Journal.

23andMe is well-known for its at-home genome testing kits, and at one point the company was worth about $6 billion,according to CNBC. But it so far has been unable to turn a profit and dealt with a massive data breachin 2023. The company paid $30 million tosettle a lawsuitover the breach last year. When 23andMe filed for bankruptcyin March, Wojcicki resignedas CEO.

TTAM will comply with 23andMe’s “privacy policies and applicable law” and has made “binding commitments to adopt additional consumer protections and privacy safeguards,” including establishing a consumer privacy advisory board within 90 days of the close of the deal. The release says the transaction is still subject to court approval but is expected to close “in the coming weeks.”

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How Meta’s CEO is spending heavily to reboot his AI team. Also, Apple has an AI problem.

How Meta’s CEO is spending heavily to reboot his AI team. Also, Apple has an AI problem.

AI researchers have recently been asking themselves a version of the question,“Is that really Zuck?”

As first reported byBloomberg, the Meta CEO has been personally asking top AI talent to join his new “superintelligence” AI lab and reboot Llama. His recruiting process typically goes like this: a cold outreach via email or WhatsApp that cites the recruit’s work history and requests a 15-minute chat. Dozens of researchers have gotten these kinds of messages at Google alone.

For those who do agree to hear his pitch (amazingly, not all of them do), Zuckerberg highlights the latitude they’ll have to make risky bets, the scale of Meta’s products, and the money he’s prepared to invest in the infrastructure to support them. He makes clear that this new team will be empowered and sit with him at Meta’s headquarters, where I’m told the desks have already been rearranged for the incoming team.

Most of the headlines so far have focused on the eye-popping compensation packages Zuckerberg is offering, some of which are well into the eight-figure range. AsI’ve covered before, hiring the best AI researcher is like hiring a star basketball player: there are very few of them, and you have to pay up. Case in point: Zuckerberg basically just paid14 Instagrams to hire awayScale AI CEOAlexandr Wang.

It’s easily the most expensive hire of all time, dwarfingthe billions that Google spentto rehireNoam Shazeerand his core team from Character.AI (a deal Zuckerberg passed on). “Opportunities of this magnitude often come at a cost,” Wang wrote in his note to employees this week. “In this instance, that cost is my departure.”

Zuckerberg’s recruiting spree is already starting to rattle his competitors. The day before his offer deadline for some senior OpenAI employees,Sam Altmandropped an essayproclaiming that “before anything else, we are a superintelligence research company.” And after Zuckerberg tried to hire DeepMind CTOKoray Kavukcuoglu, he wasgiven a larger SVP titleand now reports directly to Google CEOSundar Pichai.

I expect Wang to have the title of “chief AI officer” at Meta when the new lab is announced.Jack Rae, a principal researcher from DeepMind who has signed on, will lead pre-training. Meta certainly needs a reset. According to my sources, Llama has fallen so far behind that Meta’s product teams have recently discussed using AI models from other companies (although that is highly unlikely to happen). Meta’s internal coding tool for engineers, however, isalready usingClaude.

While Meta’s existing AI researchers have good reason to be looking over their shoulders, Zuckerberg’s $14.3 billion investment in Scale is making many longtime employees, or Scaliens, quite wealthy. They were popping champagne in the office this morning.

Then, Wang held his last all-hands meeting to say goodbye and cried. He didn’t mention what he would be doing at Meta. I expect his new team will be unveiled within the next few weeks after Zuckerberg gets a critical number of members to officially sign on.

Apple is accustomed to being on top of the tech industry, and for good reason: the company has enjoyed a nearly unrivaled run of dominance.

After spending time at Apple HQ this week for WWDC, I’m not sure that its leaders appreciate the meteorite that is heading their way. The hubris they display suggests they don’t understand how AI is fundamentally changing how people use and build software.

Heading into the keynote on Monday, everyone knew not to expect the revamped Siri that had been promised the previous year. Apple, to its credit, acknowledged that it dropped the ball there, and it sounds like a large language model rebuild of Siri is very much underway and coming in 2026.

The AI industry moves much faster than Apple’s release schedule, though. By the time Siri is perhaps good enough to keep pace, it will have to contend with the lock-in that OpenAI and others are building through their memory features. Apple and OpenAI are currently partners, but both companies want to ultimately control the interface for interacting with AI, which puts them on a collision course.

Apple’s decision to let developers use its own, on-device foundational models for free in their apps sounds strategically smart, but unfortunately, the models look far from leading. Appleran its own benchmarks, which aren’t impressive, and has confirmed a measly context window of 4,096 tokens. It’salso saying thatthe models will be updated alongside its operating systems — a snail’s pace compared to how quickly AI companies move.

I’d be surprised if any serious developers use these Apple models, although I can see them being helpful to indie devs who are just getting started and don’t want to spend on the leading cloud models. I don’t think most people care about the privacy angle that Apple is claiming as a differentiator; they are already sharing their darkest secrets with ChatGPT and other assistants.

Some of the new Apple Intelligence features I demoed this week were impressive, such as live language translation for calls. Mostly, I came away with the impression that the company is heavily leaning on its ChatGPT partnership as a stopgap until Apple Intelligence and Siri are both where they need to be.

AI probably isn’t a near-term risk to Apple’s business. No one has shipped anything close to the contextually aware Siri that was demoed at last year’s WWDC. People will continue to buy Apple hardware for a long time, even afterSam AltmanandJony Iveannounce their first AI device for ChatGPT next year. AR glasses aren’t going mainstream anytime soon either, although we can expect to see more eyewear from Meta, Google, and Snap over the coming year.

In aggregate, these AI-powered devices could begin to siphon away engagement from the iPhone, but I don’t see people fully replacing their smartphones for a long time. The bigger question after this week is whether Apple has what it takes to rise to the occasion and culturally reset itself for the AI era.

I would have loved to hearTim Cookaddress this issue directly, but the only interview he did for WWDC wasa cover storyinVarietyabout the company’s newF1movie.

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