State investigators found a chatbot that claimed it had a medical license and could write prescriptions.

Activision Blizzard seems to be focusing on next-gen platforms.

If you’ve had your eye on any official Samsung Galaxy accessories lately, right now the company is offering a slight discount on nearly everything it offers. more…

The company also updated Gemini for Home for those in an early access program.

Nearly a year after rolling out Threads direct messaging to everyone on mobile, Meta is finally bringing the feature to the web. Meta says it's "testing" DMs on the web now, but plans to make the feature "available to more people soon." In your DM page on the web, you can see your inbox and message requests. Like on mobile, you can also choose to let anyone DM you or just people you follow. The company is also planning to test group chats on the web - group chats are currently available on mobile - and is also working on "more controls." "While there's nothing better than a good conversation in the replies, we know you all like to sidebar … Read the full story at The Verge.

Well, that was fast.

Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Max 2. The firmware is version 8E258, up from the prior 8E251 firmware that was released just ahead of when the ‌AirPods Max 2‌ launched. It's not clear what's included in the firmware update, but Apple provides limited details in its AirPods firmware support document. Most updates focus on bug fixes and improvements. The ‌AirPods Max 2‌ have an H2 chip, an upgrade over the H1. The H2 brings several new features like Live Translation, Adaptive Audio, Loud Sound Reduction, Voice Isolation, and more. To get the new firmware, make sure your AirPods are in range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and are connected via Bluetooth. From there, connect the Apple device to Wi-Fi, then connect the AirPods Max to power with a USB-C cable. Keep the AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of the Apple device, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update. From there, reconnect the AirPods to the Apple device, and check the firmware version to see if it's updated. Apple says if the firmware doesn't install, to restart the AirPods Max and try again.Related Roundup: AirPods Max 2Buyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPodsThis article, "Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Max 2" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 will let users set third-party AI services as the default for Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Image Playground, reports Bloomberg. Apple has signed a deal with Google and plans to use a Gemini-based model for ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and Siri features in ‌iOS 27‌, but users will also be able to choose their favorite AI service as an alternative. Apple has already partnered with OpenAI to make ChatGPT available in lieu of Apple's built-in options for ‌Siri‌, Writing Tools, and ‌Image Playground‌ on iOS 26, but in Apple's upcoming software updates, other third-party chatbots like Claude and Gemini will also be available. Instead of being limited to ChatGPT, users will select their preferred AI service. Users can choose any AI provider that adds support for Apple's new ‌iOS 27‌, iPadOS 27, and ‌macOS 27‌ "Extensions" feature. From Bloomberg: "Extensions allow you to access generative AI capabilities from installed apps on demand, through Apple Intelligence features such as Siri, Writing Tools, Image Playground and more," according to a message shown in test versions of the software. Apple also plans to let users choose voices from third-party AI services for ‌Siri‌, which would make it clearer whether ‌Siri‌ or another AI product like Gemini is responding. ‌Siri‌ would use one voice, while responses from third-party AI options would use another voice. Apple has many other AI-related changes planned for ‌iOS 27‌, with details available in our iOS 27 roundup.Related Roundup: iOS 27Tags: Apple Intelligence, ChatGPTThis article, "iOS 27 Will Let You Pick Claude or Gemini Instead of ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Your Tuesday afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is ready to go, including titles like The Last Game, Chloe Puzzle Game Pro, Vault of the Void, Down in Bermuda, Metal Soldiers 4 Pro, Cyberlords – Arcology PREMIUM, and more. On your way down, scope out the new Amazon all-time lows on Galaxy S26 Ultra at $300 off and these open-box offers at up to $469 off, as well as this chance to land a Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold at up to $525 off. The apps await below.  more…

OpenAI is deploying GPT-5.5 Instant to all users starting today.

The class action suit concerns unauthorized scraping by Llama AI.

Following a few steep discounts on the iPhone Air last month, we're now tracking a new all-time low price on the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery on Amazon. You can get the accessory for $59.99, down from $99.00, beating the previous low price by about $20. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is only compatible with the iPhone Air, and it can add up to 65 percent additional charge to the smartphone. The MagSafe Battery supports up to 12W of fast wireless charging, and it sports a thin and light design similar to the iPhone Air. $39 OFFiPhone Air MagSafe Battery for $59.99 Apple heavily discounted the iPhone Air in both the United Kingdom and United States in late March and early April, providing as much as 30 percent off the device. There have been multiple reports regarding low sales for the iPhone Air, with one stating there is "virtually no demand" for the smartphone. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Hits $59.99 Low Price" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Steelseries just announced the Arctis Nova Pro Omni, wedging a Hi-Res option in its lineup that isn’t quite as expensive as its $600 Nova Elite headset. Priced at $399, it’s almost as good. more…

Sam Altman and Elon Musk are facing off in a high-stakes trial that could alter the future of OpenAI and its most well-known product, ChatGPT. In 2024, Musk filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of abandoning its founding mission of developing AI to benefit humanity and shifting focus to boosting profits instead. Elon Musk took the stand on April 28th as the first witness called, portraying his interest in founding OpenAI as an effort to help save humanity across three days of testimony, before his financial manager and Neuralink CEO, Jared Birchall, took the stand. Week two of the trial is underway, with professor Stuart Russell and OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman taking the stand on Monday, as the proceedings also added a live audio stream on YouTube. On Tuesday, Brockman’s testimony continued, with Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member who shares four children with Musk, up next. It’s possible that audio of her testimony will not be available on the stream, with lawyers citing threats against her and her children. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is scheduled to appear on Monday, with OpenAI cofounder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever lined up to testify after that. Musk was a cofounder of OpenAI and claims that Altman and Brockman tricked him into giving the company money, only to turn their backs on their original goal. However, OpenAI says that “This lawsuit has always been a baseless and jealous bid to derail a competitor” in a bid to boost Musk’s own SpaceX / xAI / X companies that have launched Grok as a competitor to ChatGPT. In his lawsuit, Musk is asking for the removal of Altman and Brockman, and for OpenAI to stop operating as a public benefit corporation. Musk has also demanded that OpenAI’s nonprofit receive up to $150 billion in damages he’s asking for if he wins the case. Here’s all the latest on the trial between Musk and Altman: “You had no problems answering your lawyers’ questions,” Molo is practically yelling. Molo asks Brockman if Musk was “being mean” to him. We are back to quibbling. We are now discussing the OpenAI Foundation layoffs. Microsoft is done, bless them. Microsoft is now getting to talk to Brockman. The blip. We are now discussing Shivon Zilis. We are now going through the assorted releases of GPT models. When Musk resigned, he gave a speech to OpenAI’s employees that might have been demoralizing… One observation from Brockman and Sutskever’s emails. We are now recontextualizing more entries from Brockman. There were discussions between Brockman, Altman, and Sutskever about removing Musk from the board. We are back from a break. “I thought he was going to hit me,” Brockman says of Musk. Elon Musk doesn’t love anything he can’t control. Sam Altman discussed an equal equity split… We are now discussing Brockman’s journal. Brockman talks Dota 2. Elon Musk tried to get Bill Gates to donate to OpenAI. First sidebar of the trial. OpenAI had layoffs at Musk’s insistence. Greg Brockman tells the court that while at OpenAI, he and three others worked at Tesla. YGR is on the bench. Google’s AI architect lived rent-free in Elon Musk’s head OpenAI’s president does ‘all the things,’ except answer a question Jury is sent out for the day. We are hearing about the early days of OpenAI. Early worries about Musk came from Ilya Sutskever. Brockman is describing his bromance with Altman. “I do all the things.” Brockman says we are 80 percent of the way to AGI. Open AI’s direct examination of Brockman is pretty sedate so far… aside from Tesla. OpenAI’s lawyers are now getting their shot at Brockman. For real, I think nerds should not testify in court. We are now looking at Brockman’s other financial dealings. We finished with the Microsoft investment pretty quickly. Altman didn’t return after we took our break. We are presently having a fight about purple boxes. We have been doing the same question for perhaps the last five minut

Article URL: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20260505-00/?p=112298 Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48025687 Points: 178 # Comments: 94

This is the upgraded smart assistant's debut on a non-Amazon device.

In a letter sent to Apple's CEO Tim Cook and hardware engineering chief John Ternus this week, nine members of U.S. Congress from Maryland expressed "serious concern" regarding Apple's decision to close its unionized retail store in Towson, Maryland on June 20, without plans to open a replacement store within the Baltimore region. Apple Towson Town Center "We recognize that decisions of this scale involve complex business considerations," the lawmakers said. "However, we urge Apple to reconsider whether there are viable paths forward that would preserve jobs and maintain a retail presence in the region. Maryland residents value employers who invest in their workforce and demonstrate a sustained commitment to the communities they serve. We stand ready to engage constructively with Apple to better understand this decision and to explore potential solutions." The letter was signed by nine of Maryland's lawmakers, including two senators and seven representatives, all from the Democratic Party. They said it was their understanding that Apple's store at the Towson Town Center has been in "a strong-performing location," but several local news reports have stated that the shopping mall is in decline and has lost major retailers like Tommy Bahama, Banana Republic, and Madewell. In the letter, the lawmakers said the store's closure will "significantly affect" residents and small businesses across the Baltimore region, including approximately 90 employees. As a result, they asked for Apple to provide a clearer understanding of the rationale behind this decision, including whether alternatives such as relocating the store or other operational adjustments were meaningfully considered. Last month, Apple announced that it will be permanently closing three retail stores in the U.S. in June, with the other two locations set to close beyond Apple Towson Town Center being Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut and Apple North County in Escondido, California. Apple said it made this difficult decision following the "departure of several retailers" and declining conditions" at all three of the shopping malls. Notably, the staff at the Towson store became Apple's first retail employees in the U.S. to unionize in 2022. They belong to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE), and they signed a collective bargaining agreement with Apple in 2024. Apple said employees at the Trumbull and North County stores will "continue their roles" at the company's nearby stores in each area, so transfer eligibility is guaranteed. Meanwhile, Apple said employees at the Towson store will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement, and it is unclear if everyone who applies will successfully secure a new position at the company. Last month, the IAM union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), citing discriminatory treatment against unionized workers at the Towson store. Unlike workers at two other closing stores, Apple has not offered its unionized Towson employees the opportunity to transfer to other stores. IAM said Apple not offering Towson employees the opportunity to transfer "raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union." "We praise the Maryland congressional delegation for having these workers' backs and demanding answers from Apple," said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. "These workers made history by exercising their right to organize for a voice on the job. Walking away from them now sends a dangerous message to working people everywhere." Apple has said it is simply respecting the terms of the bargaining agreement. According to Apple, the contract that the union agreed to states that in the event of a store closure, Apple would transfer or rehire employees if the company opened a new store within 50 miles

Amazon Photos is getting a revamped app that looks like it was inspired by Google Photos in a few places – which is a great thing for users. more…

The virtual event will showcase some of the biggest changes to the OS in years.

OpenAI's newest default model for ChatGPT might not make stuff up as much. Hallucinations have been an ongoing problem for AI models, but OpenAI says its new GPT-5.5 Instant model has "significant improvements in factuality across the board." The company claims that, based on "internal evaluations," GPT-5.5 Instant produced "52.5% fewer hallucinated claims" than its Instant model for GPT-5.3 "on high-stakes prompts covering areas like medicine, law, and finance." GPT-5.5 Instant also "reduced inaccurate claims by 37.3% on especially challenging conversations users had flagged for factual errors." (OpenAI has some information about how it ev … Read the full story at The Verge.