This week, Apple just can't catch a break, one of tech's biggest YouTube leakers is facing court, and ChatGPT launch their Agent tool...
More Apple news, and it's still not good...
Apple’s Annus Horribilis seems to be rolling on with no sign of letting up, as this week brought yet more bad news out of Cupertino. The company has reportedly lost two more high-level AI researchers; Mark Lee and Tom Gunter, both of whom have jumped ship to Meta, strengthening its superintelligence labs. Meta has been making headlines recently for offering eye-watering hiring bonuses to top AI talent, with some figures suggesting bonuses as high as $100 million. Whether Lee and Gunter secured anything like that is unknown, but their departure will undoubtedly be a blow to Apple, which already seems to be falling further behind in the AI race.
That neatly ties into another story this week, this time concerning a product delay that will surprise very few. Apple’s next major product category was expected to be a smart home hub, essentially a cross between a HomePod and an iPad which, if early rumours were correct, should have been announced by now and sitting in our homes sometime this year. But with Siri’s next-generation overhaul still nowhere near ready, the device has been pushed back by at least a year. Honestly, I’d be very surprised to see it by this time next year either. Knowing how Apple operates, I’d expect the new version of Siri to launch in some form of beta before a full public rollout, and this product is entirely reliant on that smart assistant being fully functional. A 2026 launch would be optimistic, and 2027, or even later, now seems more likely.
On a slightly more positive note, Apple is expected to release a budget-friendly Apple TV box later this year, with a price point somewhere around $100. Rumours suggest it might run on an A18 or A19 chip and could even include a FaceTime camera with support for gesture controls. The idea of a camera might sound far-fetched, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Apple has been encouraging users to use Continuity Camera by propping their iPhones in front of their TVs to join FaceTime calls via Apple TV. It works fine, I’ve done it myself, but it adds friction. You need a stand for your phone, you’re stuck without it while it’s in use, and it’s not the seamless experience Apple usually strives for.
Building a camera directly into the Apple TV would remove all of that friction and, interestingly, would serve as a clever piece of psychological marketing. To get the best experience, users would need to place the Apple TV box front and centre rather than hiding it away, meaning every time you sit down to watch TV, you’re reminded of it. Whether or not this happens is still up for debate, but it’s one of those rumours that feels just plausible enough to be true.
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ChatGPT Agent feels like a real game-changer
In a week where Apple continues to lose key personnel from its artificial intelligence teams, it’s fascinating to look at the other end of the spectrum, at a company that seems to have no shortage of AI talent. OpenAI quietly dropped a 25-minute demo video on YouTube this week, where Sam Altman and his team introduced the new ChatGPT Agentand demonstrated just how far its capabilities are evolving.
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If you’re unfamiliar, an AI agent is designed to go far beyond simple research. OpenAI describes it as operating with its own virtual computer, complete with tools that it can choose and use to complete complex, multi-step tasks. In the demo, the team gave it a real-world challenge: plan an upcoming wedding trip from start to finish. The agent pulled details from the couple’s wedding website, searched for hotels, compared flight options, sourced clothing that fit the dress code, and even selected a suitable gift from the wedding registry.
What sets this apart from standard ChatGPT interactions is that you can watch it work. A small on-screen window shows the agent navigating websites, gathering details, and taking screenshots as it goes. At the end of the process, which took around 10 to 15 minutes, it delivered a full report, complete with screenshots, that you could act on.
The long-term goal is for the agent to not just gather information but to book everything for you automatically. That obviously raises cybersecurity concerns, and OpenAI touched on this by discussing prompt injection attacks, where bad actors create fake websites to steal details such as credit card information. The company says it is actively training the agent to recognise the hallmarks of suspicious websites, which, in theory, could make it even less likely than a human to fall for a phishing attempt. But whether that holds up in the real world remains to be seen.
So how might you and I find ourselves using this in the near future? The idea is to have the agent handle many of the boring administrative tasks we all have to deal with by giving it access to all the tools it needs. For example, you could ask it to book a table at a restaurant, taking into account your menu preferences, checking your availability by looking at your calendar, and even emailing the people you’re going with to confirm the reservation. There’s clearly a lot of trust required to make this work, but it does feel like we’re moving closer to a world where this is the norm. And I’ll be honest, as I sit here looking at a to-do list full of mundane admin tasks, the idea of having an always-available AI assistant to do them for me sounds incredibly appealing.
It will also be interesting to see how this translates into work. I already use AI tools daily, for proofreading scripts, turning dictated words into written content, suggesting video ideas, and summarising news, but I’ve always said an AI that could actually do things rather than just summarise them would be incredible. This feels like a genuine step in that direction.
In terms of availability, the ChatGPT Agent has already rolled out to Pro, Plus, and Team users, although I suspect this is US-only for now. As a Plus user here in the UK, I don’t appear to have access to it yet, but as soon as I can try it, I’ll report back with my findings.
Apple Sues YouTuber Over iOS 26 Leaks
Popular YouTuber John Prosser is facing legal action from Apple after leaking detailed renders of iOS 26 months before its official reveal. Prosser, known for his Apple leaks, shared videos earlier this year showing the redesigned Camera app, the updated Messages app, and even early looks at what we now know as the Liquid Glass interface. His accuracy, while not perfect, was close enough to reportedly trigger alarm bells in Cupertino.
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Apple’s lawsuit accuses Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti of misappropriating trade secrets, claiming they gained access to a development iPhone belonging to Apple employee Ethan Lipnick. According to the filing, Prosser allegedly offered Ramacciotti money to help access the device, which was then shown to him via a FaceTime call that he screen-recorded to produce his videos. Apple has already severed ties with Lipnick, citing a failure to safeguard the device, and reportedly learned of the leak after an anonymous tip-off.
The company is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent further disclosures. While this will now play out in court, one thing seems certain, no amount of ad revenue from those iOS 26 videos will come close to covering Prosser’s legal bills, let alone any potential damages Apple might win.
Tip of the week
A reminder that your iPhone has a built-in tool called Magnifier, which does exactly what it sounds like. Search for it using Spotlight Search, and you can then point your phone at anything you like, and use the slider to zoom in, with remarkable clarity. Fantastic if you struggle to see small text in the real world.
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