Tech Report: Apple plans AI comeback with new devices

Apple is plotting a major return to the forefront of artificial intelligence.

(LILAMAX)- Apple is plotting a major return to the forefront of artificial intelligence, with new hardware aimed at bringing advanced AI into homes.

Bloomberg reports the centerpiece of Apple’s strategy is a tabletop robot planned for 2027, featuring a lifelike version of Siri capable of engaging with users throughout the day. The company also plans to launch a smart speaker with a display next year, as part of a broader push into entry-level smart-home devices, including home-security cameras.

Amazon is ramping up competition in the grocery sector by massively expanding its same-day delivery service for perishable items like milk, fruit, and baked goods. The e-commerce giant says it will offer the service in 2,300 U.S. cities by year’s end, more than double the current reach of 1,000 locations. Shares of competitors Walmart and Instacart fell on the news.

Meanwhile, tech job postings in California, Texas, and Virginia fell sharply in July, with some experts blaming AI. Indeed Hiring Lab economist Brendon Bernard noted that tech opportunities have been weak since mid-2023, following a peak in early 2022. A Burning Glass Institute analysis also found that the unemployment rate for Gen Z and younger millennials in computer and math occupations has risen compared to pre-pandemic levels.

In the cryptocurrency world, more companies are adding digital assets to their balance sheets as a long-term growth strategy. Verb Technologies’ stock surged after announcing it would purchase $500 million worth of Toncoin, the token tied to messaging app Telegram. Other corporations have made similar moves with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and other cryptocurrencies.