×
What We’re Expecting at CES 2026

What We’re Expecting at CES 2026

Tech-news , ,

CES 2026 doesn’t officially start until Jan. 6, but if you’re a regular Gizmodo reader, you already know that it has unofficially started. Like every year, companies start dripping out teasers and partial product announcements at the end of December, weeks before the biggest tech show even opens its doors in Las Vegas. Be sure to follow our CES 2026 live blog to see all the stuff our consumer tech team will be taking a look at in person.

I have a strong feeling CES 2026 will be a lot more packed than everyone is anticipating. Six years after the pandemic, it seems to me—based on early announcements—that the show is finally roaring back to life. Revitalized by the promise of AI—whether automation, generative, agentic, or some other kind—companies are daring to shoot for the moon again. So what major trends are we expecting from the year’s biggest show for technology innovation? I may ultimately be wrong, but let me peer into my crystal ball and see if I can connect some dots.

AI will be inescapable

More than any CES show in past years, we’ll see AI shoved into every gadget imaginable. Samsung, LG, Lenovo, Razer—all of the biggest attendees and even the small unknown startups will be boasting about why some form of AI will supposedly make their products better. Some of the AI applications could legitimately move the needle; the vast majority will be AI features for AI features’ sake, overpromising and underdelivering.

As reporters, we’re gonna spend our days at CES 2026 wading through the AI minefield of intelligence sprinkled into laptops, mobile devices, home appliances, transportation, and more. The same way Wi-Fi was added to virtually every gadget, AI will wiggle its way in even if you don’t want it.

Do you really need AI in a washing machine or refrigerator? How many times is a big electronics company going to try to convince us at a packed press conference that we need some new home appliance to figure out how to cook a meal from leftover ingredients? The most useful AI functions will be the ones that don’t even appear to be AI, LLMs, or chatbots working invisibly in the background to make our lives more convenient.

A sea of smart glasses

© Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

If reviewing a bunch of smart glasses, including Meta’s Ray-Ban Display, last year signaled anything for what to expect in 2026, it’s that there will be an avalanche of smart glasses coming.

As a possible Next Big Thing after smartphones, every company seems to be trying to figure out how to commercialize smart glasses. How do you balance style and utility while making it worth the pricey early adopter cost and also squeeze in AI into them to keep up with the latest trend? Meta might have you thinking it’s figured out some magic recipe, but in reality it hasn’t. A single pair of smart glasses with solid screens, cameras, battery life, speakers, AI, and apps is still the holy grail device everyone is chasing.

Currently, smart glasses still have too many tradeoffs. It’s also not clear that consumers even want smart glasses that do it all. That’s why we’ve seen so many flavors of smart glasses—ones with mono and dual-lens waveguide screens, ones with no cameras (for privacy, naturally) at all, or simple “AI glasses” that excel best at taking photos and videos and playing music like a pair of open-ear headphones. Then, there are video glasses from the likes of Xreal that are bolting on XR functions to allow them to offer more computing-like features that you’d find in bulkier XR or VR headsets.

I don’t expect any smart glasses blueprint to emerge by the end of CES 2026, only that the variety of designs and offerings will widen beyond what we’ve already seen shipped. There will be far more smart glasses than XR and VR headsets. The metaverse is dead; AI is now the new hotness.

TV tech matters again

New High Definition (hd) Televisions At Ces
© Bob Riha Jr / Contributor / Getty Images

Okay, maybe consumers won’t care at all what micro RGB or WOLED means, but TV makers will be pushing hard to make their latest display technologies seem like must-haves when they eventually ship in actual flat screens.

Never mind that you may not understand how backlighting technologies work or that your worsening eyesight can’t see the wider dynamic range, expanded HDR, higher contrast, or increased brightness. CES 2026 will tout TV tech like it has for more than 50 years. The show simply wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t fly in to ogle pixels.

I’ll be paying close attention to how much AI is forced into new TVs and how companies choose to integrate AI in there. Google’s Gemini will no doubt replace the old Google Assistant, but I really want to see how much AI slop there will be. My guess is that there will be an uncomfortable amount of AI slop masquerading as utility. More AI screensavers—sorry, canvas art. More AI to create fake frames to make watching sports and gaming smoother, but visibly uglier when watching movies and TV shows because of the motion smoothening.

Speaking of higher frame rates, I have to wonder how high TV makers will go with the refresh rates? 120Hz, 165Hz, and 240Hz already push the envelope for gaming, but don’t be surprised if there are a bunch of TVs with even higher native (and artificially boosted) refresh rates just to outgun the competition on a spec sheet battle.

EVs and mobility take over

Ces 2025 In Las Vegas
© NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images

Everyone knows that CES is not a car show, but it’s also impossible to ignore the entire hall of EVs, automotive, and mobility tech at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Like a slow burn, there will be more of all of it. More EVs with absurd top speeds, longer ranges, and displays plastered inside their interiors; more e-bikes and e-scooters that blur the line with motorcycles; and more wacky prototype flying cars and personal quadcopters that will promise to hit the skies (but probably never will).

Zooming in more specifically, my observation is that there will be a trend of returning back to physical and tactile in-car controls. A decade ago, Tesla made touchscreen dashboards and controls ubiquitous, but carmakers and consumers are now realizing that good ol’ buttons never needed to be—and perhaps never should have been—ditched.

Personally, I welcome this return to sensibility. Besides giving cars more differentiation and character, physical buttons, dials, and knobs are actually more user-friendly while driving. Who could have imagined that turning a dial to adjust volume or the air conditioner is faster than tapping several layers into a touchscreen layer?

And of course, like every other connected device at CES 2026, I’m sure we’ll see AI crammed into the dashboard as well as more promises for self-driving tech.

Here come the home droids

AgiBot humanoid robot patrols at the waiting hall of Jinhua railway station on the first day of the Spring Festival travel rush on January 14, 2025 in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province of China.
© Photo by Shi Bufa/VCG via Getty Images

It’s not that the smart home won’t have a huge presence at the show—it will—but it’s currently being retrofitted with AI, so it won’t sound groundbreaking. Google Assistant is being replaced by Gemini and Alexa with Alexa+. These “upgrades” are mostly on the backend, but as we’ve seen testing the early batch of products powered by these more intelligent voice assistants, the intelligence part is not quite there yet. When you need consumers to use two separate modes—one for smart home controls and another for more conversational AI—as you do with Gemini, it’s a sobering reminder that the retrofitting is still very much a work in progress.

What should be a lot more interesting on the smart home front is seeing intelligence merge with robotics within the home. I’m, of course, talking about humanoid robots that can lift things and do chores, and even beefed-up robot vacuums that can climb stairs. At CES 2026, we should be able to get a closer look at some of these personal robots. They won’t be commercially available at any affordable pricing anytime soon, but at the very least they should give us an idea of whether we’re really closer to the sci-fi dream of having a real-life C-3PO to do our bidding.

More of the usual consumer tech

Lenovo Thinkbook Plus Gen 6 Rollable Review
© Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

Those are the bigger trends I expect to see at CES 2026. On a pure hardware level, the show will be filled with the usual new laptops and PCs, home entertainment systems (TVs and speakers), wearables, audio (wireless headphones and wireless earbuds), cameras, transportation (EVs, e-bikes, e-scooters), and mobile accessories and computer peripherals. A heaven of gadgets, if you will.

By the end of the show, the Gizmodo consumer tech team will be exhausted and hungry, but we’ll have taken in the whole spectacle of it all. CES is the best place to preview the future. Or rather, ideas of what the future looks like.

Source link
#Expecting #CES

Tag

Related Posts

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
Google just made its budget AI subscription plan a lot more budget-friendly, bringing a price war that’s been brewing in emerging markets squarely to American consumers.

The company announced Monday that it is cutting the monthly price of Google AI Plus from $7.99 to $4.99 — while doubling the storage included at that tier, from 200 gigabytes to 400 gigabytes.

Vikas Kansal, product lead for Gemini AI subscriptions, said on X that the storage updates would roll out to users over the next several days.

Google AI Plus launched in January as the most affordable paid AI subscription in the U.S. market, aimed at individual users and students rather than enterprise customers. Apparently that wasn’t cheap enough.

It includes a decent feature set, too, including video generation via Omni Flash; the creative studio Google Flow; and NotebookLM, Google’s AI research assistant. For heavier users, Google also offers AI Pro and AI Ultra at higher price points and usage limits.

The price cut is worth indexing on for reasons beyond Google’s own product roadmap. Subscription pricing hasn’t yet been a key battleground among AI providers in the U.S. But that’s changing in real time, suggests Chi-Hua Chien, co-founder and managing partner at consumer-focused venture firm Goodwater Capital; he sees Monday’s announcement as the next salvo in the commoditization era for AI infrastructure, pointing to Google’s structural advantages — vertical integration, distribution, the ability to bundle — as precisely the kind of force that’s likely to erode margins for purer-play AI providers over time.

The historical parallel he reaches for is instructive. “If you look at the web era, the infrastructure companies were Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Northern Telecom, Lucent, Akamai, Equinix,” he told TechCrunch. “A lot of those companies survived for a period of time but aren’t worth a lot today.” The reason, he said, is that during every big tech shift — from PC to web to mobile — the infrastructure players “get commoditized very aggressively because the end customer doesn’t think, ‘Ooh, are my bits moving on Cisco networking equipment?’ They’re just thinking, ‘How do I move my bits as cheaply as possible?’”

He sees the same dynamic coming in the not-too-distant future for today’s AI infrastructure layer — including the frontier model providers themselves.

“My prediction for a lot of these infrastructure companies — and when I say infrastructure, I mean an OpenAI or an Anthropic, or the backend components, energy, chips, hosting — there will be a period of time when these companies are valuable,” he said. “But over time, you will see them get increasingly commoditized.”

It’s certainly something that a bigger pool of investors will be pondering soon. Both OpenAI and Anthropic have filed confidentially to go public, and their ability to command premium valuations may soon be tested by exactly the kind of price competition Chien is describing.

That competition has been building for nearly a year in markets like India, one of the fastest-growing AI user bases in the world. OpenAI drew first blood there in August of last year, launching ChatGPT Go at roughly $4.60 a month — a fraction of its standard $20 Plus plan. Google followed in December with a sub-$5 AI Plus plan of its own for Indian users.

Monday’s announcement suggests the same logic that drove those emerging-market moves — undercut, bundle, and capture users before rivals do — has now crossed over to the U.S. market.

Anthropic, notably, hasn’t followed. Unlike OpenAI and Google, it has yet to introduce localized pricing for India or a budget tier anywhere, a move that may become harder to avoid as its rivals keep slashing prices.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Google #fired #warning #shot #subscription #price #wars #TechCrunchAI,google ai,Google AI Plus">Google just fired a warning shot in the AI subscription price wars | TechCrunch Google just made its budget AI subscription plan a lot more budget-friendly, bringing a price war that’s been brewing in emerging markets squarely to American consumers. The company announced Monday that it is cutting the monthly price of Google AI Plus from .99 to .99 — while doubling the storage included at that tier, from 200 gigabytes to 400 gigabytes. Vikas Kansal, product lead for Gemini AI subscriptions, said on X that the storage updates would roll out to users over the next several days. Google AI Plus launched in January as the most affordable paid AI subscription in the U.S. market, aimed at individual users and students rather than enterprise customers. Apparently that wasn’t cheap enough. It includes a decent feature set, too, including video generation via Omni Flash; the creative studio Google Flow; and NotebookLM, Google’s AI research assistant. For heavier users, Google also offers AI Pro and AI Ultra at higher price points and usage limits. The price cut is worth indexing on for reasons beyond Google’s own product roadmap. Subscription pricing hasn’t yet been a key battleground among AI providers in the U.S. But that’s changing in real time, suggests Chi-Hua Chien, co-founder and managing partner at consumer-focused venture firm Goodwater Capital; he sees Monday’s announcement as the next salvo in the commoditization era for AI infrastructure, pointing to Google’s structural advantages — vertical integration, distribution, the ability to bundle — as precisely the kind of force that’s likely to erode margins for purer-play AI providers over time. The historical parallel he reaches for is instructive. “If you look at the web era, the infrastructure companies were Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Northern Telecom, Lucent, Akamai, Equinix,” he told TechCrunch. “A lot of those companies survived for a period of time but aren’t worth a lot today.” The reason, he said, is that during every big tech shift — from PC to web to mobile — the infrastructure players “get commoditized very aggressively because the end customer doesn’t think, ‘Ooh, are my bits moving on Cisco networking equipment?’ They’re just thinking, ‘How do I move my bits as cheaply as possible?’” He sees the same dynamic coming in the not-too-distant future for today’s AI infrastructure layer — including the frontier model providers themselves. “My prediction for a lot of these infrastructure companies — and when I say infrastructure, I mean an OpenAI or an Anthropic, or the backend components, energy, chips, hosting — there will be a period of time when these companies are valuable,” he said. “But over time, you will see them get increasingly commoditized.” It’s certainly something that a bigger pool of investors will be pondering soon. Both OpenAI and Anthropic have filed confidentially to go public, and their ability to command premium valuations may soon be tested by exactly the kind of price competition Chien is describing. That competition has been building for nearly a year in markets like India, one of the fastest-growing AI user bases in the world. OpenAI drew first blood there in August of last year, launching ChatGPT Go at roughly .60 a month — a fraction of its standard Plus plan. Google followed in December with a sub- AI Plus plan of its own for Indian users. Monday’s announcement suggests the same logic that drove those emerging-market moves — undercut, bundle, and capture users before rivals do — has now crossed over to the U.S. market. Anthropic, notably, hasn’t followed. Unlike OpenAI and Google, it has yet to introduce localized pricing for India or a budget tier anywhere, a move that may become harder to avoid as its rivals keep slashing prices. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#Google #fired #warning #shot #subscription #price #wars #TechCrunchAI,google ai,Google AI Plus

said on X that the storage updates would roll out to users over the next several days.

Google AI Plus launched in January as the most affordable paid AI subscription in the U.S. market, aimed at individual users and students rather than enterprise customers. Apparently that wasn’t cheap enough.

It includes a decent feature set, too, including video generation via Omni Flash; the creative studio Google Flow; and NotebookLM, Google’s AI research assistant. For heavier users, Google also offers AI Pro and AI Ultra at higher price points and usage limits.

The price cut is worth indexing on for reasons beyond Google’s own product roadmap. Subscription pricing hasn’t yet been a key battleground among AI providers in the U.S. But that’s changing in real time, suggests Chi-Hua Chien, co-founder and managing partner at consumer-focused venture firm Goodwater Capital; he sees Monday’s announcement as the next salvo in the commoditization era for AI infrastructure, pointing to Google’s structural advantages — vertical integration, distribution, the ability to bundle — as precisely the kind of force that’s likely to erode margins for purer-play AI providers over time.

The historical parallel he reaches for is instructive. “If you look at the web era, the infrastructure companies were Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Northern Telecom, Lucent, Akamai, Equinix,” he told TechCrunch. “A lot of those companies survived for a period of time but aren’t worth a lot today.” The reason, he said, is that during every big tech shift — from PC to web to mobile — the infrastructure players “get commoditized very aggressively because the end customer doesn’t think, ‘Ooh, are my bits moving on Cisco networking equipment?’ They’re just thinking, ‘How do I move my bits as cheaply as possible?’”

He sees the same dynamic coming in the not-too-distant future for today’s AI infrastructure layer — including the frontier model providers themselves.

“My prediction for a lot of these infrastructure companies — and when I say infrastructure, I mean an OpenAI or an Anthropic, or the backend components, energy, chips, hosting — there will be a period of time when these companies are valuable,” he said. “But over time, you will see them get increasingly commoditized.”

It’s certainly something that a bigger pool of investors will be pondering soon. Both OpenAI and Anthropic have filed confidentially to go public, and their ability to command premium valuations may soon be tested by exactly the kind of price competition Chien is describing.

That competition has been building for nearly a year in markets like India, one of the fastest-growing AI user bases in the world. OpenAI drew first blood there in August of last year, launching ChatGPT Go at roughly $4.60 a month — a fraction of its standard $20 Plus plan. Google followed in December with a sub-$5 AI Plus plan of its own for Indian users.

Monday’s announcement suggests the same logic that drove those emerging-market moves — undercut, bundle, and capture users before rivals do — has now crossed over to the U.S. market.

Anthropic, notably, hasn’t followed. Unlike OpenAI and Google, it has yet to introduce localized pricing for India or a budget tier anywhere, a move that may become harder to avoid as its rivals keep slashing prices.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Google #fired #warning #shot #subscription #price #wars #TechCrunchAI,google ai,Google AI Plus">Google just fired a warning shot in the AI subscription price wars | TechCrunch

Google just made its budget AI subscription plan a lot more budget-friendly, bringing a price war that’s been brewing in emerging markets squarely to American consumers.

The company announced Monday that it is cutting the monthly price of Google AI Plus from $7.99 to $4.99 — while doubling the storage included at that tier, from 200 gigabytes to 400 gigabytes.

Vikas Kansal, product lead for Gemini AI subscriptions, said on X that the storage updates would roll out to users over the next several days.

Google AI Plus launched in January as the most affordable paid AI subscription in the U.S. market, aimed at individual users and students rather than enterprise customers. Apparently that wasn’t cheap enough.

It includes a decent feature set, too, including video generation via Omni Flash; the creative studio Google Flow; and NotebookLM, Google’s AI research assistant. For heavier users, Google also offers AI Pro and AI Ultra at higher price points and usage limits.

The price cut is worth indexing on for reasons beyond Google’s own product roadmap. Subscription pricing hasn’t yet been a key battleground among AI providers in the U.S. But that’s changing in real time, suggests Chi-Hua Chien, co-founder and managing partner at consumer-focused venture firm Goodwater Capital; he sees Monday’s announcement as the next salvo in the commoditization era for AI infrastructure, pointing to Google’s structural advantages — vertical integration, distribution, the ability to bundle — as precisely the kind of force that’s likely to erode margins for purer-play AI providers over time.

The historical parallel he reaches for is instructive. “If you look at the web era, the infrastructure companies were Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Northern Telecom, Lucent, Akamai, Equinix,” he told TechCrunch. “A lot of those companies survived for a period of time but aren’t worth a lot today.” The reason, he said, is that during every big tech shift — from PC to web to mobile — the infrastructure players “get commoditized very aggressively because the end customer doesn’t think, ‘Ooh, are my bits moving on Cisco networking equipment?’ They’re just thinking, ‘How do I move my bits as cheaply as possible?’”

He sees the same dynamic coming in the not-too-distant future for today’s AI infrastructure layer — including the frontier model providers themselves.

“My prediction for a lot of these infrastructure companies — and when I say infrastructure, I mean an OpenAI or an Anthropic, or the backend components, energy, chips, hosting — there will be a period of time when these companies are valuable,” he said. “But over time, you will see them get increasingly commoditized.”

It’s certainly something that a bigger pool of investors will be pondering soon. Both OpenAI and Anthropic have filed confidentially to go public, and their ability to command premium valuations may soon be tested by exactly the kind of price competition Chien is describing.

That competition has been building for nearly a year in markets like India, one of the fastest-growing AI user bases in the world. OpenAI drew first blood there in August of last year, launching ChatGPT Go at roughly $4.60 a month — a fraction of its standard $20 Plus plan. Google followed in December with a sub-$5 AI Plus plan of its own for Indian users.

Monday’s announcement suggests the same logic that drove those emerging-market moves — undercut, bundle, and capture users before rivals do — has now crossed over to the U.S. market.

Anthropic, notably, hasn’t followed. Unlike OpenAI and Google, it has yet to introduce localized pricing for India or a budget tier anywhere, a move that may become harder to avoid as its rivals keep slashing prices.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Google #fired #warning #shot #subscription #price #wars #TechCrunchAI,google ai,Google AI Plus

Post Comment