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The great computer science exodus (and where students are going instead) | TechCrunch

The great computer science exodus (and where students are going instead) | TechCrunch

Something strange happened at University of California campuses this fall. For the first time since the dot-com crash, computer science enrollment dropped. System-wide, it fell 6% this year after declining 3% in 2024, according to reporting this past week by the San Francisco Chronicle. Even as overall college enrollment climbed 2% nationally — according to January data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center — students are bailing on traditional CS degrees.

The one exception is UC San Diego — the only UC campus that added a dedicated AI major this fall.

This all might look like a temporary blip tied to news about fewer CS grads finding work out of college. But it’s more likely an indicator of the future, one that China is much more enthusiastically embracing. As MIT Technology Review reported last July, Chinese universities have leaned hard into AI literacy, treating AI not as a threat but instead as essential infrastructure. Nearly 60% of Chinese students and faculty now use AI tools multiple times daily, and schools like Zhejiang University have made AI coursework mandatory, while top institutions like Tsinghua have created entirely new interdisciplinary AI colleges. In China, fluency with AI isn’t optional anymore; it’s table stakes.

U.S. universities are scrambling to catch up. Over the last two years, dozens have launched AI-specific programs. MIT’s “AI and decision-making” major is now the second-largest major on campus, says the school. As reported by the New York Times in December, the University of South Florida enrolled more than 3,000 students in a new AI and cybersecurity college during its fall semester. The University at Buffalo last summer launched a new “AI and Society” department that offers seven new, specialized undergraduate degree programs, and it received more than 200 applicants before it swung open its doors.

The transition hasn’t been smooth everywhere. When I spoke with UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts in October, he described a spectrum — some faculty “leaning forward” with AI, others with “their heads in the sand.” Roberts, a former finance executive who arrived from outside academia, was pushing hard for AI integration despite faculty resistance. A week earlier, UNC had announced it would merge two schools to create an AI-focused entity — a decision that drew faculty pushback. Roberts had also appointed a vice provost specifically for AI. “No one’s going to say to students after they graduate, ‘Do the best job you can, but if you use AI, you’ll be in trouble,’” Roberts told me. “Yet we have faculty members effectively saying that right now.”

Parents are playing a role in this rocky transition, too. David Reynaldo, who runs the admissions consultancy College Zoom, told the Chronicle that parents who once pushed kids toward CS are now reflexively steering them toward other majors that seem more resistant to AI automation, including mechanical and electrical engineering.

But the enrollment numbers suggest students are voting with their feet. According to a survey in October by the nonprofit Computing Research Association — it members include computer science and computer engineering departments from a wide range of universities — 62% of respondents reported that their computing programs saw undergraduate enrollment declines this fall. But with AI programs ballooning, it’s looking less like a tech exodus and more like a migration. The University of Southern California is launching an AI degree this coming fall; so are Columbia University, Pace University, and New Mexico State University, among many others. Students aren’t abandoning tech; they’re choosing programs focused on AI instead.

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It’s too soon to say whether this recalibration is permanent or a temporary panic. But it’s certainly a wake-up call for administrators who’ve spent years wrestling with how to handle AI in the classroom. The debate over whether to ban ChatGPT is ancient history at this point. The question now is whether American universities can move fast enough or whether they’ll keep arguing about what to do while students transfer to schools that already have answers.

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Table of Contents

Since the work-from-home shift in 2020, Logitech has been releasing more products with a mobility focus. We love the Casa Pop-Up Desk that was released a couple of years ago. And now, the brand has introduced a computer mouse for modern work with a nod to nostalgic tech. The Logitech Mobi Fold is a pocket-sized mouse that folds up for incredibly easy transportation. It’s also so fun to fold and unfold — reminiscent of snapping a flip phone shut.

Logitech Mobi Fold price and specs

The Mobi Fold retails for $79.99 and is available as of June 10. It features the following:

  • Size: 33 mm (21 mm when folded) H x 122 mm (66 mm when folded) D x 57 mm W

  • Weight: 79 grams

  • Colors: Graphite, off-white, lilac, sand

  • Battery: One-minute charge provides 22 hours of use, full charge provides one month of use

Logitech introduces Mobi Fold, a foldable mouse with major flip phone vibes
                                        Table of Contents
    
        
            
                Table of Contents
                
                                            Table of Contents
                                            Logitech Mobi Fold price and specs
                                            Mobi Fold first impressions
                                            Where to buy the Mobi Fold
                                    
                
            
        
    
                    Since the work-from-home shift in 2020, Logitech has been releasing more products with a mobility focus. We love the Casa Pop-Up Desk that was released a couple of years ago. And now, the brand has introduced a computer mouse for modern work with a nod to nostalgic tech. The Logitech Mobi Fold is a pocket-sized mouse that folds up for incredibly easy transportation. It’s also so fun to fold and unfold — reminiscent of snapping a flip phone shut.Logitech Mobi Fold price and specsThe Mobi Fold retails for .99 and is available as of June 10. It features the following:Size: 33 mm (21 mm when folded) H x 122 mm (66 mm when folded) D x 57 mm WWeight: 79 gramsColors: Graphite, off-white, lilac, sandBattery: One-minute charge provides 22 hours of use, full charge provides one month of use
    
                    


            
            
            It folds down small enough to comfortably fit in your pocket.
            Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
        
    
Mobi Fold first impressionsI received a Mobi Fold ahead of its launch, and have been using it for a couple of weeks. It’s not my go-to while working at my desk in my home office (that’s Logitech’s Signature Comfort Plus M850 L), but I do think it’s a fun solution for people who don’t work in one location.
        
            Mashable Light Speed
        
        
    

The design doesn’t scream comfort at first glance, but it’s actually pretty ergonomic and comfortable to use. It tracks very well, even on different surfaces like a coffee shop table or even a pant leg. The touch controls are responsive as well — though I’ve found the scrolling to be a little sensitive, often scrolling the entire length of a page when I’m trying to go line by line.As with other Logitech products, the Mobi Fold can pair with up to three devices, with a button to switch between them. You’re also able to customize two buttons on the touch panel in the Logi Options+ app, which is pretty cool. They’re defaulted to go backward and forward on a webpage, but you could program them, for example, to copy and paste text.
As someone who works from home and doesn’t like to stray from my desk, I don’t know that I’d buy the Mobi Fold. But for people who work during their commute or like to move around throughout the day, this is a great alternative to carrying a bulky mouse in their bag. Plus, it’s just such a fun concept, and I find myself fidgeting with the mouse, folding and unfolding it while I work. Where to buy the Mobi FoldAt launch in the U.S., Mobi Fold is exclusively available on Logitech.com and in the TikTok Shop through July 8. In Canada, it’s available on Logitech.com and other retailers beginning June 10. 

                    
                                            
                            
                        
                                    #Logitech #introduces #Mobi #Fold #foldable #mouse #major #flip #phone #vibes

It folds down small enough to comfortably fit in your pocket. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Mobi Fold first impressions

I received a Mobi Fold ahead of its launch, and have been using it for a couple of weeks. It’s not my go-to while working at my desk in my home office (that’s Logitech’s Signature Comfort Plus M850 L), but I do think it’s a fun solution for people who don’t work in one location.

The design doesn’t scream comfort at first glance, but it’s actually pretty ergonomic and comfortable to use. It tracks very well, even on different surfaces like a coffee shop table or even a pant leg. The touch controls are responsive as well — though I’ve found the scrolling to be a little sensitive, often scrolling the entire length of a page when I’m trying to go line by line.

As with other Logitech products, the Mobi Fold can pair with up to three devices, with a button to switch between them. You’re also able to customize two buttons on the touch panel in the Logi Options+ app, which is pretty cool. They’re defaulted to go backward and forward on a webpage, but you could program them, for example, to copy and paste text.

As someone who works from home and doesn’t like to stray from my desk, I don’t know that I’d buy the Mobi Fold. But for people who work during their commute or like to move around throughout the day, this is a great alternative to carrying a bulky mouse in their bag. Plus, it’s just such a fun concept, and I find myself fidgeting with the mouse, folding and unfolding it while I work.

Where to buy the Mobi Fold

At launch in the U.S., Mobi Fold is exclusively available on Logitech.com and in the TikTok Shop through July 8. In Canada, it’s available on Logitech.com and other retailers beginning June 10.

#Logitech #introduces #Mobi #Fold #foldable #mouse #major #flip #phone #vibes">Logitech introduces Mobi Fold, a foldable mouse with major flip phone vibes
                                        Table of Contents
    
        
            
                Table of Contents
                
                                            Table of Contents
                                            Logitech Mobi Fold price and specs
                                            Mobi Fold first impressions
                                            Where to buy the Mobi Fold
                                    
                
            
        
    
                    Since the work-from-home shift in 2020, Logitech has been releasing more products with a mobility focus. We love the Casa Pop-Up Desk that was released a couple of years ago. And now, the brand has introduced a computer mouse for modern work with a nod to nostalgic tech. The Logitech Mobi Fold is a pocket-sized mouse that folds up for incredibly easy transportation. It’s also so fun to fold and unfold — reminiscent of snapping a flip phone shut.Logitech Mobi Fold price and specsThe Mobi Fold retails for .99 and is available as of June 10. It features the following:Size: 33 mm (21 mm when folded) H x 122 mm (66 mm when folded) D x 57 mm WWeight: 79 gramsColors: Graphite, off-white, lilac, sandBattery: One-minute charge provides 22 hours of use, full charge provides one month of use
    
                    


            
            
            It folds down small enough to comfortably fit in your pocket.
            Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
        
    
Mobi Fold first impressionsI received a Mobi Fold ahead of its launch, and have been using it for a couple of weeks. It’s not my go-to while working at my desk in my home office (that’s Logitech’s Signature Comfort Plus M850 L), but I do think it’s a fun solution for people who don’t work in one location.
        
            Mashable Light Speed
        
        
    

The design doesn’t scream comfort at first glance, but it’s actually pretty ergonomic and comfortable to use. It tracks very well, even on different surfaces like a coffee shop table or even a pant leg. The touch controls are responsive as well — though I’ve found the scrolling to be a little sensitive, often scrolling the entire length of a page when I’m trying to go line by line.As with other Logitech products, the Mobi Fold can pair with up to three devices, with a button to switch between them. You’re also able to customize two buttons on the touch panel in the Logi Options+ app, which is pretty cool. They’re defaulted to go backward and forward on a webpage, but you could program them, for example, to copy and paste text.
As someone who works from home and doesn’t like to stray from my desk, I don’t know that I’d buy the Mobi Fold. But for people who work during their commute or like to move around throughout the day, this is a great alternative to carrying a bulky mouse in their bag. Plus, it’s just such a fun concept, and I find myself fidgeting with the mouse, folding and unfolding it while I work. Where to buy the Mobi FoldAt launch in the U.S., Mobi Fold is exclusively available on Logitech.com and in the TikTok Shop through July 8. In Canada, it’s available on Logitech.com and other retailers beginning June 10. 

                    
                                            
                            
                        
                                    #Logitech #introduces #Mobi #Fold #foldable #mouse #major #flip #phone #vibes

Casa Pop-Up Desk that was released a couple of years ago. And now, the brand has introduced a computer mouse for modern work with a nod to nostalgic tech. The Logitech Mobi Fold is a pocket-sized mouse that folds up for incredibly easy transportation. It’s also so fun to fold and unfold — reminiscent of snapping a flip phone shut.

Logitech Mobi Fold price and specs

The Mobi Fold retails for $79.99 and is available as of June 10. It features the following:

  • Size: 33 mm (21 mm when folded) H x 122 mm (66 mm when folded) D x 57 mm W

  • Weight: 79 grams

  • Colors: Graphite, off-white, lilac, sand

  • Battery: One-minute charge provides 22 hours of use, full charge provides one month of use

Logitech introduces Mobi Fold, a foldable mouse with major flip phone vibes
                                        Table of Contents
    
        
            
                Table of Contents
                
                                            Table of Contents
                                            Logitech Mobi Fold price and specs
                                            Mobi Fold first impressions
                                            Where to buy the Mobi Fold
                                    
                
            
        
    
                    Since the work-from-home shift in 2020, Logitech has been releasing more products with a mobility focus. We love the Casa Pop-Up Desk that was released a couple of years ago. And now, the brand has introduced a computer mouse for modern work with a nod to nostalgic tech. The Logitech Mobi Fold is a pocket-sized mouse that folds up for incredibly easy transportation. It’s also so fun to fold and unfold — reminiscent of snapping a flip phone shut.Logitech Mobi Fold price and specsThe Mobi Fold retails for .99 and is available as of June 10. It features the following:Size: 33 mm (21 mm when folded) H x 122 mm (66 mm when folded) D x 57 mm WWeight: 79 gramsColors: Graphite, off-white, lilac, sandBattery: One-minute charge provides 22 hours of use, full charge provides one month of use
    
                    


            
            
            It folds down small enough to comfortably fit in your pocket.
            Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
        
    
Mobi Fold first impressionsI received a Mobi Fold ahead of its launch, and have been using it for a couple of weeks. It’s not my go-to while working at my desk in my home office (that’s Logitech’s Signature Comfort Plus M850 L), but I do think it’s a fun solution for people who don’t work in one location.
        
            Mashable Light Speed
        
        
    

The design doesn’t scream comfort at first glance, but it’s actually pretty ergonomic and comfortable to use. It tracks very well, even on different surfaces like a coffee shop table or even a pant leg. The touch controls are responsive as well — though I’ve found the scrolling to be a little sensitive, often scrolling the entire length of a page when I’m trying to go line by line.As with other Logitech products, the Mobi Fold can pair with up to three devices, with a button to switch between them. You’re also able to customize two buttons on the touch panel in the Logi Options+ app, which is pretty cool. They’re defaulted to go backward and forward on a webpage, but you could program them, for example, to copy and paste text.
As someone who works from home and doesn’t like to stray from my desk, I don’t know that I’d buy the Mobi Fold. But for people who work during their commute or like to move around throughout the day, this is a great alternative to carrying a bulky mouse in their bag. Plus, it’s just such a fun concept, and I find myself fidgeting with the mouse, folding and unfolding it while I work. Where to buy the Mobi FoldAt launch in the U.S., Mobi Fold is exclusively available on Logitech.com and in the TikTok Shop through July 8. In Canada, it’s available on Logitech.com and other retailers beginning June 10. 

                    
                                            
                            
                        
                                    #Logitech #introduces #Mobi #Fold #foldable #mouse #major #flip #phone #vibes

It folds down small enough to comfortably fit in your pocket. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Mobi Fold first impressions

I received a Mobi Fold ahead of its launch, and have been using it for a couple of weeks. It’s not my go-to while working at my desk in my home office (that’s Logitech’s Signature Comfort Plus M850 L), but I do think it’s a fun solution for people who don’t work in one location.

The design doesn’t scream comfort at first glance, but it’s actually pretty ergonomic and comfortable to use. It tracks very well, even on different surfaces like a coffee shop table or even a pant leg. The touch controls are responsive as well — though I’ve found the scrolling to be a little sensitive, often scrolling the entire length of a page when I’m trying to go line by line.

As with other Logitech products, the Mobi Fold can pair with up to three devices, with a button to switch between them. You’re also able to customize two buttons on the touch panel in the Logi Options+ app, which is pretty cool. They’re defaulted to go backward and forward on a webpage, but you could program them, for example, to copy and paste text.

As someone who works from home and doesn’t like to stray from my desk, I don’t know that I’d buy the Mobi Fold. But for people who work during their commute or like to move around throughout the day, this is a great alternative to carrying a bulky mouse in their bag. Plus, it’s just such a fun concept, and I find myself fidgeting with the mouse, folding and unfolding it while I work.

Where to buy the Mobi Fold

At launch in the U.S., Mobi Fold is exclusively available on Logitech.com and in the TikTok Shop through July 8. In Canada, it’s available on Logitech.com and other retailers beginning June 10.

#Logitech #introduces #Mobi #Fold #foldable #mouse #major #flip #phone #vibes">Logitech introduces Mobi Fold, a foldable mouse with major flip phone vibes

Table of Contents

Since the work-from-home shift in 2020, Logitech has been releasing more products with a mobility focus. We love the Casa Pop-Up Desk that was released a couple of years ago. And now, the brand has introduced a computer mouse for modern work with a nod to nostalgic tech. The Logitech Mobi Fold is a pocket-sized mouse that folds up for incredibly easy transportation. It’s also so fun to fold and unfold — reminiscent of snapping a flip phone shut.

Logitech Mobi Fold price and specs

The Mobi Fold retails for $79.99 and is available as of June 10. It features the following:

  • Size: 33 mm (21 mm when folded) H x 122 mm (66 mm when folded) D x 57 mm W

  • Weight: 79 grams

  • Colors: Graphite, off-white, lilac, sand

  • Battery: One-minute charge provides 22 hours of use, full charge provides one month of use

Logitech introduces Mobi Fold, a foldable mouse with major flip phone vibes
                                        Table of Contents
    
        
            
                Table of Contents
                
                                            Table of Contents
                                            Logitech Mobi Fold price and specs
                                            Mobi Fold first impressions
                                            Where to buy the Mobi Fold
                                    
                
            
        
    
                    Since the work-from-home shift in 2020, Logitech has been releasing more products with a mobility focus. We love the Casa Pop-Up Desk that was released a couple of years ago. And now, the brand has introduced a computer mouse for modern work with a nod to nostalgic tech. The Logitech Mobi Fold is a pocket-sized mouse that folds up for incredibly easy transportation. It’s also so fun to fold and unfold — reminiscent of snapping a flip phone shut.Logitech Mobi Fold price and specsThe Mobi Fold retails for .99 and is available as of June 10. It features the following:Size: 33 mm (21 mm when folded) H x 122 mm (66 mm when folded) D x 57 mm WWeight: 79 gramsColors: Graphite, off-white, lilac, sandBattery: One-minute charge provides 22 hours of use, full charge provides one month of use
    
                    


            
            
            It folds down small enough to comfortably fit in your pocket.
            Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
        
    
Mobi Fold first impressionsI received a Mobi Fold ahead of its launch, and have been using it for a couple of weeks. It’s not my go-to while working at my desk in my home office (that’s Logitech’s Signature Comfort Plus M850 L), but I do think it’s a fun solution for people who don’t work in one location.
        
            Mashable Light Speed
        
        
    

The design doesn’t scream comfort at first glance, but it’s actually pretty ergonomic and comfortable to use. It tracks very well, even on different surfaces like a coffee shop table or even a pant leg. The touch controls are responsive as well — though I’ve found the scrolling to be a little sensitive, often scrolling the entire length of a page when I’m trying to go line by line.As with other Logitech products, the Mobi Fold can pair with up to three devices, with a button to switch between them. You’re also able to customize two buttons on the touch panel in the Logi Options+ app, which is pretty cool. They’re defaulted to go backward and forward on a webpage, but you could program them, for example, to copy and paste text.
As someone who works from home and doesn’t like to stray from my desk, I don’t know that I’d buy the Mobi Fold. But for people who work during their commute or like to move around throughout the day, this is a great alternative to carrying a bulky mouse in their bag. Plus, it’s just such a fun concept, and I find myself fidgeting with the mouse, folding and unfolding it while I work. Where to buy the Mobi FoldAt launch in the U.S., Mobi Fold is exclusively available on Logitech.com and in the TikTok Shop through July 8. In Canada, it’s available on Logitech.com and other retailers beginning June 10. 

                    
                                            
                            
                        
                                    #Logitech #introduces #Mobi #Fold #foldable #mouse #major #flip #phone #vibes

It folds down small enough to comfortably fit in your pocket. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Mobi Fold first impressions

I received a Mobi Fold ahead of its launch, and have been using it for a couple of weeks. It’s not my go-to while working at my desk in my home office (that’s Logitech’s Signature Comfort Plus M850 L), but I do think it’s a fun solution for people who don’t work in one location.

The design doesn’t scream comfort at first glance, but it’s actually pretty ergonomic and comfortable to use. It tracks very well, even on different surfaces like a coffee shop table or even a pant leg. The touch controls are responsive as well — though I’ve found the scrolling to be a little sensitive, often scrolling the entire length of a page when I’m trying to go line by line.

As with other Logitech products, the Mobi Fold can pair with up to three devices, with a button to switch between them. You’re also able to customize two buttons on the touch panel in the Logi Options+ app, which is pretty cool. They’re defaulted to go backward and forward on a webpage, but you could program them, for example, to copy and paste text.

As someone who works from home and doesn’t like to stray from my desk, I don’t know that I’d buy the Mobi Fold. But for people who work during their commute or like to move around throughout the day, this is a great alternative to carrying a bulky mouse in their bag. Plus, it’s just such a fun concept, and I find myself fidgeting with the mouse, folding and unfolding it while I work.

Where to buy the Mobi Fold

At launch in the U.S., Mobi Fold is exclusively available on Logitech.com and in the TikTok Shop through July 8. In Canada, it’s available on Logitech.com and other retailers beginning June 10.

#Logitech #introduces #Mobi #Fold #foldable #mouse #major #flip #phone #vibes

Parents want one thing, and one thing only, out of AI: to add a list of soccer games or “spirit week” theme days from an email or a poorly formatted flyer onto their calendar in one shot. And I have good news for parents with iPhones — the new Siri can finally do this.

After stumbling through its first launch of an AI-imbued Siri, Apple is trying again. The newly upgraded Siri AI can chat with you about what might be killing the roses in your yard, put together a shopping list for the hardware store, and set a reminder to lay down some compost in that flower bed. It can reference information in your email and calendar to make its recommendations or provide an actually helpful answer to the question: “When should I leave for the airport?” And yes, it can even add a list of events from an email to your calendar. I tried all of these scenarios out for myself and I saw it happen. AI Siri is for real this time.

This is like, baby’s first AI assistant stuff, but it’s huge that it actually works.

Honestly Bun Mee is my go-to, so this is a good call.

But it’s also a pretty basic set of features for an AI assistant in 2026, particularly if you compare it to what Gemini has been doing on Android for the past couple of years. Google’s chatbot has been able to add multiple calendar events from a screenshot for at least a year at this point. It’s been diagnosing plant problems and scheduling maintenance reminders for months now, if not longer. New Siri is built on Gemini models, so it makes a lot of sense that the first iteration of Siri AI feels a little bit “Gemini, circa 2025.”

Siri AI has its own flavor, though. Apple has a lot of proprietary stuff going on under the hood and in the cloud. It draws from an on-device pool of data that’s gleaned from things like email and messages. This information is indexed so Siri can tap into the relevant bits when needed. Prompts that can’t be handled fully on device are sent to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute with only the relevant pieces of personal data attached. Gemini handles personal context differently; you opt into sharing your Gmail or calendar, and then it’ll go directly to those sources to get the information when needed.

Siri AI working well depends a lot on the AI understanding context. So far, it’s doing pretty well. I asked it when I needed to return some camera gear I rented for WWDC, and it found the information from a calendar event I’d made and in an email (it’s due back Friday, for the record). Likewise, prompting it with something like “add these events to my calendar” will consistently trigger it to reference the information on my screen. So far, so good.

I couldn’t get Siri to engage in any shenanigans — I didn’t exactly stress test it, but the guardrails were strong enough to return a curt “I can’t help you with that” to a shady prompt. Fair. As a conversationalist, new Siri also seems a bit more dispassionate than Gemini. I gave them both the same prompt asking why the flowers in front of my house seemed to be wilting. They both gave wordy responses with a lot of possible causes, but Gemini’s started with “That is incredibly frustrating…” where Siri was more direct and got right into diagnosing the situation.

Siri AI’s response to my question gets to the point quicker.

Gemini sends its sympathies.

The new Siri handled my follow-up requests well, too. I asked it to recommend a garden center “near home” and it came up with a good suggestion. It also created a new reminder list with some checklist items for my garden rehab project and added a calendar event, all from a single prompt. Pretty basic stuff, but this is Siri. The fact that it works at all is a step forward that’s been years in the making.

New Siri pops up in a lot of places on the iPhone. I’ve gotten into the habit of swiping down on the homescreen and using search to get to apps, and every time I do there’s a big prompt to “search or ask” with a glowing, blinking cursor. Long pressing the wake button summons Siri from the Dynamic Island now, too, rather than presenting it as a glowing border around the screen. The changes all add up to a subtle feeling that you’re never very far away from Siri.

The changes all add up to a subtle feeling that you’re never very far away from Siri

This iteration of Siri feels like the AI assistant you’d build if you knew you couldn’t screw it up. It supports a pretty basic set of features — it’s not out here DoorDashing your burritos for you — but it actually does what’s advertised. For the company that made big promises of Siri two years ago that never materialized, that’s a big deal. “It works” and “It will actually ship to customers” are the two targets that Apple couldn’t miss here. It’s only in a developer beta now, but it’s realer than the first AI Siri we were shown at WWDC ever was. Apple needs this version of Siri to earn back trust. And based on what I’ve seen so far, this looks like a small step toward getting that trust back.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
#Siri #worksAI,Apple,Hands-on,Reviews,Tech,WWDC 2026">I tried Siri AI, and so far it actually worksParents want one thing, and one thing only, out of AI: to add a list of soccer games or “spirit week” theme days from an email or a poorly formatted flyer onto their calendar in one shot. And I have good news for parents with iPhones — the new Siri can finally do this.After stumbling through its first launch of an AI-imbued Siri, Apple is trying again. The newly upgraded Siri AI can chat with you about what might be killing the roses in your yard, put together a shopping list for the hardware store, and set a reminder to lay down some compost in that flower bed. It can reference information in your email and calendar to make its recommendations or provide an actually helpful answer to the question: “When should I leave for the airport?” And yes, it can even add a list of events from an email to your calendar. I tried all of these scenarios out for myself and I saw it happen. AI Siri is for real this time.This is like, baby’s first AI assistant stuff, but it’s huge that it actually works.Honestly Bun Mee is my go-to, so this is a good call.But it’s also a pretty basic set of features for an AI assistant in 2026, particularly if you compare it to what Gemini has been doing on Android for the past couple of years. Google’s chatbot has been able to add multiple calendar events from a screenshot for at least a year at this point. It’s been diagnosing plant problems and scheduling maintenance reminders for months now, if not longer. New Siri is built on Gemini models, so it makes a lot of sense that the first iteration of Siri AI feels a little bit “Gemini, circa 2025.”Siri AI has its own flavor, though. Apple has a lot of proprietary stuff going on under the hood and in the cloud. It draws from an on-device pool of data that’s gleaned from things like email and messages. This information is indexed so Siri can tap into the relevant bits when needed. Prompts that can’t be handled fully on device are sent to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute with only the relevant pieces of personal data attached. Gemini handles personal context differently; you opt into sharing your Gmail or calendar, and then it’ll go directly to those sources to get the information when needed.Siri AI working well depends a lot on the AI understanding context. So far, it’s doing pretty well. I asked it when I needed to return some camera gear I rented for WWDC, and it found the information from a calendar event I’d made and in an email (it’s due back Friday, for the record). Likewise, prompting it with something like “add these events to my calendar” will consistently trigger it to reference the information on my screen. So far, so good.I couldn’t get Siri to engage in any shenanigans — I didn’t exactly stress test it, but the guardrails were strong enough to return a curt “I can’t help you with that” to a shady prompt. Fair. As a conversationalist, new Siri also seems a bit more dispassionate than Gemini. I gave them both the same prompt asking why the flowers in front of my house seemed to be wilting. They both gave wordy responses with a lot of possible causes, but Gemini’s started with “That is incredibly frustrating…” where Siri was more direct and got right into diagnosing the situation.Siri AI’s response to my question gets to the point quicker.Gemini sends its sympathies. The new Siri handled my follow-up requests well, too. I asked it to recommend a garden center “near home” and it came up with a good suggestion. It also created a new reminder list with some checklist items for my garden rehab project and added a calendar event, all from a single prompt. Pretty basic stuff, but this is Siri. The fact that it works at all is a step forward that’s been years in the making.New Siri pops up in a lot of places on the iPhone. I’ve gotten into the habit of swiping down on the homescreen and using search to get to apps, and every time I do there’s a big prompt to “search or ask” with a glowing, blinking cursor. Long pressing the wake button summons Siri from the Dynamic Island now, too, rather than presenting it as a glowing border around the screen. The changes all add up to a subtle feeling that you’re never very far away from Siri.The changes all add up to a subtle feeling that you’re never very far away from SiriThis iteration of Siri feels like the AI assistant you’d build if you knew you couldn’t screw it up. It supports a pretty basic set of features — it’s not out here DoorDashing your burritos for you — but it actually does what’s advertised. For the company that made big promises of Siri two years ago that never materialized, that’s a big deal. “It works” and “It will actually ship to customers” are the two targets that Apple couldn’t miss here. It’s only in a developer beta now, but it’s realer than the first AI Siri we were shown at WWDC ever was. Apple needs this version of Siri to earn back trust. And based on what I’ve seen so far, this looks like a small step toward getting that trust back.Photography by Allison Johnson / The VergeFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Allison JohnsonCloseAllison JohnsonPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Allison JohnsonAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleHands-onCloseHands-onPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Hands-onReviewsCloseReviewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ReviewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechWWDC 2026CloseWWDC 2026Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All WWDC 2026#Siri #worksAI,Apple,Hands-on,Reviews,Tech,WWDC 2026

onto their calendar in one shot. And I have good news for parents with iPhones — the new Siri can finally do this.

After stumbling through its first launch of an AI-imbued Siri, Apple is trying again. The newly upgraded Siri AI can chat with you about what might be killing the roses in your yard, put together a shopping list for the hardware store, and set a reminder to lay down some compost in that flower bed. It can reference information in your email and calendar to make its recommendations or provide an actually helpful answer to the question: “When should I leave for the airport?” And yes, it can even add a list of events from an email to your calendar. I tried all of these scenarios out for myself and I saw it happen. AI Siri is for real this time.

This is like, baby’s first AI assistant stuff, but it’s huge that it actually works.

Honestly Bun Mee is my go-to, so this is a good call.

But it’s also a pretty basic set of features for an AI assistant in 2026, particularly if you compare it to what Gemini has been doing on Android for the past couple of years. Google’s chatbot has been able to add multiple calendar events from a screenshot for at least a year at this point. It’s been diagnosing plant problems and scheduling maintenance reminders for months now, if not longer. New Siri is built on Gemini models, so it makes a lot of sense that the first iteration of Siri AI feels a little bit “Gemini, circa 2025.”

Siri AI has its own flavor, though. Apple has a lot of proprietary stuff going on under the hood and in the cloud. It draws from an on-device pool of data that’s gleaned from things like email and messages. This information is indexed so Siri can tap into the relevant bits when needed. Prompts that can’t be handled fully on device are sent to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute with only the relevant pieces of personal data attached. Gemini handles personal context differently; you opt into sharing your Gmail or calendar, and then it’ll go directly to those sources to get the information when needed.

Siri AI working well depends a lot on the AI understanding context. So far, it’s doing pretty well. I asked it when I needed to return some camera gear I rented for WWDC, and it found the information from a calendar event I’d made and in an email (it’s due back Friday, for the record). Likewise, prompting it with something like “add these events to my calendar” will consistently trigger it to reference the information on my screen. So far, so good.

I couldn’t get Siri to engage in any shenanigans — I didn’t exactly stress test it, but the guardrails were strong enough to return a curt “I can’t help you with that” to a shady prompt. Fair. As a conversationalist, new Siri also seems a bit more dispassionate than Gemini. I gave them both the same prompt asking why the flowers in front of my house seemed to be wilting. They both gave wordy responses with a lot of possible causes, but Gemini’s started with “That is incredibly frustrating…” where Siri was more direct and got right into diagnosing the situation.

Siri AI’s response to my question gets to the point quicker.

Gemini sends its sympathies.

The new Siri handled my follow-up requests well, too. I asked it to recommend a garden center “near home” and it came up with a good suggestion. It also created a new reminder list with some checklist items for my garden rehab project and added a calendar event, all from a single prompt. Pretty basic stuff, but this is Siri. The fact that it works at all is a step forward that’s been years in the making.

New Siri pops up in a lot of places on the iPhone. I’ve gotten into the habit of swiping down on the homescreen and using search to get to apps, and every time I do there’s a big prompt to “search or ask” with a glowing, blinking cursor. Long pressing the wake button summons Siri from the Dynamic Island now, too, rather than presenting it as a glowing border around the screen. The changes all add up to a subtle feeling that you’re never very far away from Siri.

The changes all add up to a subtle feeling that you’re never very far away from Siri

This iteration of Siri feels like the AI assistant you’d build if you knew you couldn’t screw it up. It supports a pretty basic set of features — it’s not out here DoorDashing your burritos for you — but it actually does what’s advertised. For the company that made big promises of Siri two years ago that never materialized, that’s a big deal. “It works” and “It will actually ship to customers” are the two targets that Apple couldn’t miss here. It’s only in a developer beta now, but it’s realer than the first AI Siri we were shown at WWDC ever was. Apple needs this version of Siri to earn back trust. And based on what I’ve seen so far, this looks like a small step toward getting that trust back.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

#Siri #worksAI,Apple,Hands-on,Reviews,Tech,WWDC 2026">I tried Siri AI, and so far it actually works

Parents want one thing, and one thing only, out of AI: to add a list of soccer games or “spirit week” theme days from an email or a poorly formatted flyer onto their calendar in one shot. And I have good news for parents with iPhones — the new Siri can finally do this.

After stumbling through its first launch of an AI-imbued Siri, Apple is trying again. The newly upgraded Siri AI can chat with you about what might be killing the roses in your yard, put together a shopping list for the hardware store, and set a reminder to lay down some compost in that flower bed. It can reference information in your email and calendar to make its recommendations or provide an actually helpful answer to the question: “When should I leave for the airport?” And yes, it can even add a list of events from an email to your calendar. I tried all of these scenarios out for myself and I saw it happen. AI Siri is for real this time.

This is like, baby’s first AI assistant stuff, but it’s huge that it actually works.

Honestly Bun Mee is my go-to, so this is a good call.

But it’s also a pretty basic set of features for an AI assistant in 2026, particularly if you compare it to what Gemini has been doing on Android for the past couple of years. Google’s chatbot has been able to add multiple calendar events from a screenshot for at least a year at this point. It’s been diagnosing plant problems and scheduling maintenance reminders for months now, if not longer. New Siri is built on Gemini models, so it makes a lot of sense that the first iteration of Siri AI feels a little bit “Gemini, circa 2025.”

Siri AI has its own flavor, though. Apple has a lot of proprietary stuff going on under the hood and in the cloud. It draws from an on-device pool of data that’s gleaned from things like email and messages. This information is indexed so Siri can tap into the relevant bits when needed. Prompts that can’t be handled fully on device are sent to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute with only the relevant pieces of personal data attached. Gemini handles personal context differently; you opt into sharing your Gmail or calendar, and then it’ll go directly to those sources to get the information when needed.

Siri AI working well depends a lot on the AI understanding context. So far, it’s doing pretty well. I asked it when I needed to return some camera gear I rented for WWDC, and it found the information from a calendar event I’d made and in an email (it’s due back Friday, for the record). Likewise, prompting it with something like “add these events to my calendar” will consistently trigger it to reference the information on my screen. So far, so good.

I couldn’t get Siri to engage in any shenanigans — I didn’t exactly stress test it, but the guardrails were strong enough to return a curt “I can’t help you with that” to a shady prompt. Fair. As a conversationalist, new Siri also seems a bit more dispassionate than Gemini. I gave them both the same prompt asking why the flowers in front of my house seemed to be wilting. They both gave wordy responses with a lot of possible causes, but Gemini’s started with “That is incredibly frustrating…” where Siri was more direct and got right into diagnosing the situation.

Siri AI’s response to my question gets to the point quicker.

Gemini sends its sympathies.

The new Siri handled my follow-up requests well, too. I asked it to recommend a garden center “near home” and it came up with a good suggestion. It also created a new reminder list with some checklist items for my garden rehab project and added a calendar event, all from a single prompt. Pretty basic stuff, but this is Siri. The fact that it works at all is a step forward that’s been years in the making.

New Siri pops up in a lot of places on the iPhone. I’ve gotten into the habit of swiping down on the homescreen and using search to get to apps, and every time I do there’s a big prompt to “search or ask” with a glowing, blinking cursor. Long pressing the wake button summons Siri from the Dynamic Island now, too, rather than presenting it as a glowing border around the screen. The changes all add up to a subtle feeling that you’re never very far away from Siri.

The changes all add up to a subtle feeling that you’re never very far away from Siri

This iteration of Siri feels like the AI assistant you’d build if you knew you couldn’t screw it up. It supports a pretty basic set of features — it’s not out here DoorDashing your burritos for you — but it actually does what’s advertised. For the company that made big promises of Siri two years ago that never materialized, that’s a big deal. “It works” and “It will actually ship to customers” are the two targets that Apple couldn’t miss here. It’s only in a developer beta now, but it’s realer than the first AI Siri we were shown at WWDC ever was. Apple needs this version of Siri to earn back trust. And based on what I’ve seen so far, this looks like a small step toward getting that trust back.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
#Siri #worksAI,Apple,Hands-on,Reviews,Tech,WWDC 2026

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