Plus: Turns out Microsoft was LYING to your face about this button ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

November 04, 2025 | Read online
# Apple white-labels Google AI, BYD cashes in and DV alert service launches Plus: Turns out Microsoft was LYING to your face about this button
Edition 2453
unknown source so if you own the copyright to this image... sorry
# The News
### Apple will use white-label Google AI to power next-gen Siri
Apple has abandoned an in-house next-gen Siri in and instead will use a private version of Google Gemini run on its servers (Bloomberg, $). With the company’s 50th anniversary looming and the AI race getting away from them, Apple is set to reportedly pay Google to use a “custom Gemini-based model” run on its own private servers.
Siri itself will be broken into three under-the-hood models: a summariser, a query planner which interprets input like voice or text, and a knowledge search system. The first two will run completely on Apple’s computers, whereas the latter will need to talk to Google’s servers. But don’t expect to hear Google or Apple talk about this Siri arrangement — it’s all being done hush-hush behind the scenes.
The Sizzle: Apple partnering with Google was always the most likely outcome if they couldn’t crack Siri internally. Given their existing arrangements (which comprises Google backing up an enormous truck of money to Cupertino each year to keep it as the preferred search engine), similarity in corporate DNA and just the sheer scale necessary to power Apple devices worldwide, OpenAI or Anthropic were never really options. Obviously, it’s a bit embarrassing that Apple couldn’t crack this itself but I don’t think it’s a death knell for the company. There’s nothing stopping them from tinkering away in the background with an Apple model-backed Siri up for the future, informed by the data it’ll collect from its customers using the Google-backed version through its devices.
Other Apple news: Apple launches web app store (MacRumors) and phases out Intel-era app compatibility (MacRumors)
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
### An unintended consequence of Australia’s car emissions target calculations is that Jamberoo is now surrounded by thousands of unsold EVs
BYD’s sprawling hectares of thousands of unsold vehicles may be a result of the Chinese company cashing in on carbon credits (AFR, $). Last week, I shared an article raising the fears that stashed BYD vehicles were a surveillance threat. Now, car dealers and major manufacturers say the EV-maker’s glut of vehicle imports is taking advantage of the way that the government’s incentives for efficient vehicles work.
Maybe they’re just all there to go to Jamberoo?
The National Vehicle Efficiency Standard sets emission targets for car maker imports. If they exceed them, they face paying penalties. But they can also buy credits from other carmakers as a way of avoiding a penalty. Crucially, however, the scheme was set up to give out credits based on car imports and not sales. So, it’s alleged, BYD and other EV makers are bringing in cars to cash in on those credits even though the cars haven’t been sold. Clever!
Anyway, the Transport Minister Catherine King says the government will consider moving to a point-of-sale system for the emissions scheme as part of a review next year.
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
### New DV legal update service launched to help survivors
Domestic violence survivors will be able to sign up for updates about how their perpetrator is progressing through the legal system as part of a new trial (ABC News). The NSW and federal governments are piloting a program called DV Notify which will give text and email updates about the arrests, sentencing, and release of their perpetrators (NSW Gov).
The Sizzle: As many of you will know or have heard, it’s incredibly hard to get information as a survivor. The legal system is set up to enforce laws, with little thought about how to handle survivors. I’ve heard of stories about people who have no idea about what’s happening to perpetrators being tried for crimes affecting them, let alone about their release. I think this is a really great use of technology that will provide some comfort in a very difficult situation.
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
#### Leftovers
Australia:
Top cyber scientist warns of quantum computing security threats (The Australian, $) Lawyers seek compensation for patients impacted by Genea fertility clinic data breach (Cyber Daily) “Delighted and excited to share that from today, NSW public school students in Years 9-12 have access to NSWEduChat student mode.” (LinkedIn) Over a dozen unis are using AI to catch AI — and getting it wrong (ABC News) Oasis fans used 7.43TB of data on the Telstra network during two sold-out concerts (EFTM) Fergus Ryan on the AI hype cycle's breaking point (ASPI Cyber, Tech & Security) Hisense 116 UX RGB Mini-LED review – Could a 116 inch TV be worth $40,000? (EFTM) From the CEO's Desk - November 2025 (Internet Association of Australia) Interesting quote on the rejected Telco consumer protection code: “how many consumers are keen to undergo a credit check, with all the privacy implications for a debt of a mere $300?”
Rest of the world:
Sam Altman says 'enough' to questions about OpenAI's revenue (TechCrunch, $) Man…. someone’s a little grouchy about these questions. Google pulled the plug on old Nest Thermostats, but this project revives them (9to5Google) Chrome can now autofill driver's license, vehicle info, and more (9to5Google) Pornhub says UK visitors down 77% since age checks came in (BBC) arXiv Changes Rules After Getting Spammed With AI-Generated 'Research' Papers (404 Media, $) Wikipedia row erupts as Jimmy Wales intervenes on 'Gaza genocide' page (The National, $) The Future of Advertising Is AI Generated Ads That Are Directly Personalized to You (404 Media, $) The Internet Archive survived major copyright losses. What's next? (Ars Technica) Good interview with the head of IA Details of DHS Agreement Reveal Risks of Trump Administration's Use of Social Security Data for Voter Citizenship Checks (Propublica) Linux Kernel Ported To WebAssembly - Demo Lets You Run It In Your Web Browser (Phoronix) I Built My Own Google Drive (lorbic.com)
Good for 2025 Alan Turing
Discuss these links in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
# Oh, Also
### Turns out Microsoft was LYING to your face about this button
I’m not crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had always noticed that Windows always seemed to restart after an update even when I clicked shut down. Turns out Microsoft has noticed and fixed a decades-old bug that meant that clicking “update and shut down” would just update and restart (Windows Latest).
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
# Bargains
Electrical & Electronics
STYRBAR IoT Remote Control (for IKEA Home Smart Appliances) - $15 at IKEA Anker USB C (Nano II 65W) 3-Port Gan Charger - $33.99 at AnkerDirect AU via Amazon AU Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 True Wireless ANC Earphones - $199 at JB Hi-Fi eufy Outdoor E10 Smart Lights - $258 at eufy (Down from $369.95) Ubiquiti Video Recorder Instant (UNVR-INSTANT) - $373 at Digilifeonline eBay Roborock Qrevo MaxV Robot Vacuum - $748 at Roborock Official eBay Sennheiser HDB 630 Audiophile Wireless Headphones with BTD 700 Bluetooth® USB - $829 at Sennheiser eBay Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch - $899 at Tineco Ecovacs DEEBOT X5 PRO OMNI Robotic Vacuum - $994 at Harvey Norman Elektron Digitakt 8-Voice Drum Machine & Sampler LE - $999 at Awave (Down from $1700+)
Computing
Ubiquiti Unifi U7 Pro Wireless Access Point - $292 at Digilifeonline eBay
Mobile
Samsung Galaxy S25 256GB - $849 at Samsung eBay Oppo Find X9 Pro + Oppo Watch X2 and Oppo Enco X3s Earphones - $2299 at Oppo
# The End
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