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)

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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.

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.

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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.

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Leftovers

Australia:

Rest of the world:

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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).

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Bargains

Electrical & Electronics

Computing

Mobile

The End

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