Startups & Technology

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Apple’s new Siri tool automates restaurant bill splitting

The familiar social friction of dividing a dinner tab among friends is the target of Apple’s latest update, unveiled at WWDC 2026. By integrating receipt-scanning technology directly into the iPhone camera, the company aims to replace manual calculations with automated Apple Cash requests for individual items.

Apple Unveils Stand-Alone Siri App at WWDC 2026

At WWDC 2026, Apple pulled the curtain back on a reimagined Siri, marking the most significant overhaul in the assistant’s history. Beyond the underlying AI upgrades, the company introduced a dedicated, stand-alone application designed to centralize interactions and transform how users engage with the assistant across their Apple ecosystem.

Apple Revamps Image Playground with New AI Capabilities

Apple is finally addressing the underwhelming performance of its native AI image generator at WWDC 2026. By integrating Apple Intelligence, the company aims to move Image Playground beyond its reputation for mediocre output, introducing deeper customization options and seamless system-wide functionality across the iPhone ecosystem.

Apple Intelligence transforms Shortcuts into natural language tool

During the WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple unveiled a redesigned Shortcuts app for iOS 27 that ditches complex visual scripting in favor of generative AI. Users can now build intricate automation workflows simply by typing descriptive prompts, effectively lowering the barrier for those without technical expertise to customize their device behavior.

Apple Intelligence Infuses iOS With Contextual Automation

At WWDC 2026, Apple unveiled a comprehensive suite of AI-driven capabilities designed to transform the iPhone into a context-aware assistant. By integrating cross-app data awareness and natural language automation, the company is shifting the battleground for AI dominance directly into the operating system's core, prioritizing deep, personalized data utility.

Apple Unveils iOS 27 and Siri AI in Tim Cook’s Final WWDC Keynote

Apple kicked off its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park today, marking a symbolic turning point as CEO Tim Cook delivered his final keynote before transitioning leadership to John Ternus this September. The event centered on a massive AI push, headlined by a revamped Siri and the expansion of Apple Intelligence.

Pentagon Expands Blacklist of Chinese Tech Giants

The U.S. Department of Defense has officially designated Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, and robotics developer Unitree as entities supporting the Chinese military. This expansion of the 1260H list intensifies the regulatory pressure on major Chinese corporations and deepens existing friction between Washington and Beijing over industrial policy and national security.

Microsoft Pulls Dozens of GitHub Projects After Malware Injection

Security researchers have identified a sophisticated supply chain attack targeting Microsoft’s open source repositories, leading the tech giant to disable access to at least 70 projects. Hackers successfully injected password-stealing malware into tools frequently utilized by developers working with AI interfaces like Claude Code and Gemini.

Apple targets indie developers with free AI cloud access

Apple is waiving cloud infrastructure fees for developers with fewer than 2 million first-time App Store downloads, aiming to lower the barrier for building AI-powered applications. By integrating its Foundation Models into Private Cloud Compute at no cost, the company seeks to secure its platform as the primary hub for independent experimentation.

Waymo acquires Apple’s former Arizona test track for $220 million

A 5,500-acre proving ground in Wittman, Arizona, has changed hands in a $220 million deal, with Alphabet-owned Waymo purchasing the facility from a shell company linked to Apple. The site, which once served as the testing hub for Apple’s shuttered Project Titan, will now anchor Waymo’s autonomous vehicle development.

Apple prioritizes software repairs over AI ambitions at WWDC

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference opened not with a grand AI revelation, but with a strategic admission of fault. By dedicating the keynote’s opening to fixing long-standing software grievances, the company signaled that its foundational ecosystem requires a steady hand before it can safely lean into the high-stakes world of artificial intelligence.

Apple Shifts Demo Strategy After $250 Million False Advertising Settlement

At its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple debuted a revised approach to product demonstrations by favoring live-feeling, on-device footage over the polished, pre-rendered videos that sparked a $250 million legal settlement last year. The company aimed to prove its AI-powered Siri and iOS 27 features function reliably on existing hardware.

OpenAI Files for IPO Amid Growing Competition and Financial Hurdles

OpenAI has officially submitted a confidential registration statement for an initial public offering, positioning itself for a high-stakes market debut. The move follows a similar filing by rival Anthropic, signaling a concentrated race for capital between the two dominant players in the artificial intelligence sector.

Sam Altman’s Worldcoin venture cuts staff amid regulatory hurdles

While OpenAI prepares for a landmark IPO, Tools for Humanity—the startup behind the controversial eye-scanning project World—is trimming its workforce. The layoffs arrive as the company struggles to turn its ambitious biometric verification model into a sustainable business, according to reports from Business Insider.

Apple’s Calculated AI Pivot

For years, critics dismissed Apple as a laggard in the AI race, warning that its lack of a breakneck strategy risked eroding the iPhone’s dominance. By embedding automated capabilities directly into the operating system through Siri, the company is now attempting to flip that narrative, prioritizing user utility over sheer speed.

The 'Sequoia Scam': Founders Challenge Dual-Pricing Valuation Tactics

Brendan Foody, co-founder of the AI platform Mercor, has sparked a firestorm by accusing Sequoia Capital of employing a misleading dual-pricing strategy. Foody claims the firm uses two-tranche investment rounds to secure lower entry valuations while publicly touting inflated headline figures, a practice he labels a calculated deception.

Zepto Targets $1 Billion IPO Amid Rising Losses and Regulatory Scrutiny

Quick-commerce powerhouse Zepto is heading to public markets, filing for an IPO that could raise roughly $837 million. While the startup reports rapid expansion and a surge in advertising revenue, the move arrives under the shadow of persistent net losses and an ongoing investigation by India’s financial authorities.