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Apple punts on Siri updates as it struggles to keep up in the AI race

Apple punts on Siri updates as it struggles to keep up in the AI race

Apple’s WWDC 2025 had new software, Formula 1 references, and a piano man crooning the text of different app reviews. But one key feature got the short end of the stick: Siri.

Although the company continuously referenced Apple Intelligence and pushed new features like live translation for Messages, FaceTime, and phone calls, Apple’s AI assistant was barely mentioned. In fact, the most attention Siri got was when Apple explained that some of its previously promised features were running behind schedule.

To address what many saw as the elephant in the room, Apple’s keynote briefly mentioned that it had updated Siri to be “more natural and more helpful,” but that personalization features were still on the horizon. Those features were first mentioned at last year’s WWDC, with a rollout timeline “over the course of the next year.”

“We’re continuing our work to deliver the features that make Siri even more personal,” Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of software engineering, said during Monday’s keynote. “This work needed more time to reach our high quality bar, and we look forward to sharing more about it in the coming year.”

Apple’s relative silence on Siri stands out

Apple has long been criticized for the shortcomings of Apple Intelligence and for falling behind competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google in the race to build generative AI apps and services. Apple’s AI models are rarely mentioned alongside its competitors when it comes to power users exploring real-life benefits, let alone more advanced AI agent capabilities.

The company’s relative silence on a personalized Siri this year stood out for a handful of reasons. For one, there’s Apple’s own marketing push: last year, it ran TV ads for a revamped Siri showing features that still haven’t arrived.

Then there are Apple’s competitors. Google and Microsoft are both pushing hard on AI and moving to rapidly integrate it into their operating systems. For example, ahead of Google’s I/O conference last month, Android users were the first to get free access to a live Gemini feature that allowed the AI assistant to see and respond to images and items on your screen. And as part of Microsoft’s Build conference last month, Microsoft announced AI shortcuts in Windows 11’s File Explorer that let users click on a file and immediately see suggestions like blurring aspects of a photo or summarizing content.

Meanwhile, Apple Intelligence’s stumbles have given people plenty to poke fun at in the months since their rollout. The feature’s rocky debut included notification summaries so off the mark that the company disabled them for some app categories after the BBC reported the tool would conflate multiple headlines into inaccurate synopses.

The company’s strategy on Monday was to roll out a wide swath of small, functional updates powered by Apple Intelligence — and partly by ChatGPT — that could help it catch up to competitors in terms of translation and search. Apple’s Image Playground now integrates with OpenAI’s technology, and users can tap into ChatGPT to change a friend’s photo into the style of an oil painting or other types of art. Apple gave developers access to the on-device large language model behind Apple Intelligence, and it also debuted live translation features that allow users to translate between languages in Messages, FaceTime, and phone calls.

A photo of live translation on a FaceTime call in iOS 26.
Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

At WWDC, Apple also pushed visual intelligence features aimed at allowing users to “search and take action on anything they’re viewing” across different apps. “Users can ask ChatGPT questions about what they’re looking at on their screen to learn more, as well as search Google, Etsy, or other supported apps to find similar images and products,” according to Apple.

Some had been waiting for Apple to use WWDC as an opportunity to announce it was expanding its AI options for iOS beyond ChatGPT — for instance, allowing Siri to tap into Google’s Gemini for complex user queries — but that didn’t happen this time around.

Last June, during a live session after an Apple keynote, Federighi mentioned that he hopes Apple Intelligence will eventually allow users “to choose the models they want,” specifically name-dropping Gemini. One of Apple’s backend updates in February hinted at a Gemini integration, and in April, during Google’s search monopoly trial proceedings, CEO Sundar Pichai said the company plans to ink a deal with Apple by mid-2025, with a rollout by the end of this year. Everyone’s still waiting for that.

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TL;DR: iClever’s Q950 Kids Headphones are now on Amazon for $69.99. They pack hybrid ANC, an 80dBA volume limit, 60-hour battery life, and a kid-proof design.


iClever has launched the Q950 Kids Headphones, a new pair of wireless over-ear headphones designed to make listening safer for younger users. Available in the U.S. from iClever and Amazon for $69.99, the Q950 comes in two colors: blue and purple.

The headphones are built around iClever’s SafeSound technology, which keeps volume capped at 80dBA while adding noise cancellation to help kids hear clearly without needing to turn the volume all the way up.

What makes the Q950 stand out is its TÜV Rheinland Hearing Care certification, a third-party certification that recognizes the headphones’ focus on safer listening and hearing-friendly design. For parents, that adds an extra layer of confidence that their kids are using headphones designed with hearing health in mind.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Beyond hearing protection, the Q950 packs features you’d usually expect from adult headphones. Wear Detection automatically pauses audio when the headphones are removed, Transparency Mode lets kids hear what’s happening around them without taking the headphones off, and Bluetooth Audio Sharing allows two headphones to connect to the same device for shared listening.

Battery life reaches up to 60 hours on a single charge, while ANC still works when using the included wired AUX connection. Built for everyday use, the Q950 includes an adjustable headband, soft ear cushions, and rotating ear cups for a comfortable fit as kids grow.

Grab the iClever Q950 Kids Headphones on Amazon for safer listening on the go.

#iClever #Q950 #Kids #Headphones #bring #ANC #hearing #protection">iClever Q950 Kids Headphones bring ANC and hearing protection for .99
                                                            TL;DR: iClever’s Q950 Kids Headphones are now on Amazon for .99. They pack hybrid ANC, an 80dBA volume limit, 60-hour battery life, and a kid-proof design.
iClever has launched the Q950 Kids Headphones, a new pair of wireless over-ear headphones designed to make listening safer for younger users. Available in the U.S. from iClever and Amazon for .99, the Q950 comes in two colors: blue and purple. The headphones are built around iClever’s SafeSound technology, which keeps volume capped at 80dBA while adding noise cancellation to help kids hear clearly without needing to turn the volume all the way up.What makes the Q950 stand out is its TÜV Rheinland Hearing Care certification, a third-party certification that recognizes the headphones’ focus on safer listening and hearing-friendly design. For parents, that adds an extra layer of confidence that their kids are using headphones designed with hearing health in mind. 
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                By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
            
        
    

Beyond hearing protection, the Q950 packs features you’d usually expect from adult headphones. Wear Detection automatically pauses audio when the headphones are removed, Transparency Mode lets kids hear what’s happening around them without taking the headphones off, and Bluetooth Audio Sharing allows two headphones to connect to the same device for shared listening. 

        
            Mashable Deals
        
        
            
                            
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                        By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
                    
                
                        
        
    
Battery life reaches up to 60 hours on a single charge, while ANC still works when using the included wired AUX connection. Built for everyday use, the Q950 includes an adjustable headband, soft ear cushions, and rotating ear cups for a comfortable fit as kids grow. Grab the iClever Q950 Kids Headphones on Amazon for safer listening on the go.

                    
                                            
                            
    
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                                    #iClever #Q950 #Kids #Headphones #bring #ANC #hearing #protection

iClever’s Q950 Kids Headphones are now on Amazon for $69.99. They pack hybrid ANC, an 80dBA volume limit, 60-hour battery life, and a kid-proof design.


iClever has launched the Q950 Kids Headphones, a new pair of wireless over-ear headphones designed to make listening safer for younger users. Available in the U.S. from iClever and Amazon for $69.99, the Q950 comes in two colors: blue and purple.

The headphones are built around iClever’s SafeSound technology, which keeps volume capped at 80dBA while adding noise cancellation to help kids hear clearly without needing to turn the volume all the way up.

What makes the Q950 stand out is its TÜV Rheinland Hearing Care certification, a third-party certification that recognizes the headphones’ focus on safer listening and hearing-friendly design. For parents, that adds an extra layer of confidence that their kids are using headphones designed with hearing health in mind.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Beyond hearing protection, the Q950 packs features you’d usually expect from adult headphones. Wear Detection automatically pauses audio when the headphones are removed, Transparency Mode lets kids hear what’s happening around them without taking the headphones off, and Bluetooth Audio Sharing allows two headphones to connect to the same device for shared listening.

Battery life reaches up to 60 hours on a single charge, while ANC still works when using the included wired AUX connection. Built for everyday use, the Q950 includes an adjustable headband, soft ear cushions, and rotating ear cups for a comfortable fit as kids grow.

Grab the iClever Q950 Kids Headphones on Amazon for safer listening on the go.

#iClever #Q950 #Kids #Headphones #bring #ANC #hearing #protection">iClever Q950 Kids Headphones bring ANC and hearing protection for $69.99

TL;DR: iClever’s Q950 Kids Headphones are now on Amazon for $69.99. They pack hybrid ANC, an 80dBA volume limit, 60-hour battery life, and a kid-proof design.


iClever has launched the Q950 Kids Headphones, a new pair of wireless over-ear headphones designed to make listening safer for younger users. Available in the U.S. from iClever and Amazon for $69.99, the Q950 comes in two colors: blue and purple.

The headphones are built around iClever’s SafeSound technology, which keeps volume capped at 80dBA while adding noise cancellation to help kids hear clearly without needing to turn the volume all the way up.

What makes the Q950 stand out is its TÜV Rheinland Hearing Care certification, a third-party certification that recognizes the headphones’ focus on safer listening and hearing-friendly design. For parents, that adds an extra layer of confidence that their kids are using headphones designed with hearing health in mind.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Beyond hearing protection, the Q950 packs features you’d usually expect from adult headphones. Wear Detection automatically pauses audio when the headphones are removed, Transparency Mode lets kids hear what’s happening around them without taking the headphones off, and Bluetooth Audio Sharing allows two headphones to connect to the same device for shared listening.

Battery life reaches up to 60 hours on a single charge, while ANC still works when using the included wired AUX connection. Built for everyday use, the Q950 includes an adjustable headband, soft ear cushions, and rotating ear cups for a comfortable fit as kids grow.

Grab the iClever Q950 Kids Headphones on Amazon for safer listening on the go.

#iClever #Q950 #Kids #Headphones #bring #ANC #hearing #protection

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