A New Generation Of Hardware Is Here!

Godspeed Godspeed

5 days ago

5 MIN READ

OpenAI just made its biggest bet yet — on hardware!

The company acquired Jony Ive’s AI device startup, io, in a $6.5 billion all-stock deal. Ive, the designer behind the iPhone, iMac, and Apple Watch, now leads design at OpenAI. His team, including former Apple colleagues, joins OpenAI’s push to build a new class of AI-native devices.

Sam Altman calls its first product in development,

“The coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.”

Ive says it,

“Completely captured his imagination.”

Product details are scarce, but rumors suggest the new device may replace the smartphone as the primary interface for AI.

OpenAI’s hardware debut is expected to launch in 2026. The company’s acquisition positions it to compete with Apple, Google and Meta in consumer hardware. If successful, it may redefine how people interact with technology.

If you’re like me and are obsessed with hardware, watch OpenAI’s hype video here.

Google Search, Infused with AI

Google reengineered how billions of people interact with the internet. The company rolled out a suite of AI features that replace traditional search with real-time synthesis.

Instead of serving up links, Google now delivers answers — summarized, contextual, and tailored. It’s a structural shift, not a feature tweak. And it will ripple through content, commerce, and discovery.

Here’s what’s new:

AI Overviews: Google generates summaries from multiple sources and shows them at the top of search results. Users get a full response before they see a single link.

Deep Search: Complex queries get broken into parts. Google runs multiple searches simultaneously and delivers a deeper, more relevant result set.

Multimodal Search: Snap a photo or upload an image — Google analyzes it and responds with detailed information. Visual input now drives search.

AI Shopping Tools: Includes virtual try-ons, real-time pricing, product reviews, and “agentic checkout,” which can monitor deals and complete purchases on your behalf.

Contextual Memory: Google remembers what you asked before. Follow-up questions build on previous searches, mimicking a conversation.

These updates allow Google Search to act like a digital assistant.

Read Google’s official update here.

Meet Anthropic’s Latest AI Models

Anthropic unveiled Claude 4, introducing two new models: Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4.

Claude Opus 4: Opus 4 handles complex, long-duration tasks. It achieved a 72.5% score on the SWE-bench benchmark, indicating strong coding proficiency. In practical applications, Opus 4 demonstrates the ability to operate autonomously for extended periods, such as a seven-hour continuous coding session, maintaining performance without degradation.

Claude Sonnet 4: Sonnet 4 offers rapid responses with high accuracy. It scored 72.7% on the SWE-bench benchmark, surpassing its predecessor. Sonnet 4 is optimized for tasks requiring quick turnaround without compromising on quality.

New Features:

Extended Tool Use: Both models utilize external tools, such as web search, during extended reasoning processes, enhancing their ability to provide comprehensive responses.
Parallel Tool Use: The models can operate multiple tools simultaneously, improving efficiency in complex tasks.
Improved Memory Capabilities: When granted access to local files, the models can extract and retain key information, allowing for better continuity in extended tasks.

Cracking Apple’s App Store Monopoly

A U.S. federal judge ruled that Apple violated a prior injunction by continuing to block developers from directing users to external payment options. The court found Apple in contempt and banned it from charging commissions on off-app purchases or using design tactics to discourage users from leaving the App Store.

The financial implications are significant. If 20% of transactions shift off-platform, Apple may lose up to $11.6 billion annually, approximately 10% of its Services revenue.

Spotify, a long-time critic of Apple’s App Store fees, has already capitalized on the ruling. The company updated its iOS app to include external payment links and reports a significant increase in Premium subscriptions since the change.

This decision marks a turning point in the app economy, potentially challenging Apple’s longstanding App Store monopoly.

Real Steel Is Real

Four human-operated robots fought in Hangzhou as part of the CMG World Robot Competition. Built by Unitree Robotics, each humanoid stood 1.3 meters tall, weighed 35 kilograms, and executed full-body combat — punches, kicks, even aerial spin moves. Teams controlled the bots in real time using motion capture.

The show was a stress test for robotic balance, coordination, and fast-paced decision-making. The goal: build robots that can operate in chaotic, real-world environments.

China plans a full-scale humanoid combat championship in December. Real Steel is real. Catch a glimpse of the action here.