OpenAI is making several updates to its Codex AI coding agent. Codex is now able to operate desktop Mac apps with its own cursor, seeing what's on the screen, clicking, and typing to complete tasks.
Codex can run multiple agents on the Mac in parallel, without interfering with the user's own work. OpenAI says developers will find it useful for testing apps, iterating on frontend changes, and more. Codex can now remember preferences, recurring workflows, tech stacks, and other information about each user's personal workflow. With automation improvements, Codex is able to resume work after a pause using existing conversation threads, and it can schedule future work for itself and work on a task across days or weeks. Codex also proposes work using context from projects, memory, and connected plugins.
There is an in-app browser for Codex that allows users to comment directly on pages to provide more precise instructions to the agent. In the future, Codex will get full use of the browser for opening websites, working through user flows, taking screenshots, and inspecting outputs.
Codex has been updated to use gpt-image-1.5 for generating images in the app, which OpenAI says is helpful for creating visuals for product concepts and mockups. Codex now includes support for multiple terminal tabs, addressing GitHub review comments, and opening files directly in the sidebar with rich previews for documents like PDFs and spreadsheets.
Along with these changes, Codex has over 90 new plugins that can combine skills, app integrations, and MCP servers to improve Codex's context gathering and actions.
The updates to Codex are rolling out today to Codex desktop users signed in with ChatGPT. The personalization features are not yet available to Enterprise, Education, EU, and UK users, but will be rolling out soon. Computer use is also not yet available in the EU or the UK.
In a video uploaded to its YouTube channel in South Korea today, Apple showed off a handful of iPhone 17 Pro devices decorated with tiny stickers.
The stickers are placed on the iPhone 17 Pro's so-called "plateau," the protruding aluminum area housing the rear cameras, an LED flash, a microphone, and the LiDAR Scanner. The video has the hashtags #PhoneDecor and #iPhoneCustomization.
Amazon recently introduced a few new record low prices on the M5 MacBook Air, offering $150 off multiple models of the notebook. We've begun noticing that deals aren't as plentiful as they were over the weekend, so if you've been holding off now will be the time to get the M5 MacBook Air at these best-ever prices.
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Amazon has the 512GB 13-inch M5 MacBook Air for $949.00, down from $1,099.00, and the 24GB/1TB model for $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00. Both of these represent record low prices for each configuration.
In terms of the 15-inch models, you'll find up to $150 off the M5 MacBook Air, with multiple color options on sale for each configuration. Prices start at $1,149.00 for the 512GB model, down from $1,299.00, and also include both 1TB models on sale.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Apple is offering 10% off AirPods, Beats, or accessories to customers who recycle an eligible iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac at a participating Apple Store through May 16.
The discount applies when the recycling and purchase are completed in the same transaction. The promotion runs from today, April 16, through to May 16. Products brought in for recycling undergo screenings, with eligible devices sent to Apple's advanced recycling systems, including Daisy and Cora, for further processing. See Apple's terms and conditions for more information.
The promotion was announced alongside Apple's annual Environmental Progress Report, which revealed a record 30% of material across all products shipped in 2025 came from recycled content.
Apple today announced that a record 30% of material across all products it shipped in 2025 came from recycled content, alongside a series of other environmental milestones published in its annual Environmental Progress Report.
The achievement marks new highs across several specific components. All batteries designed by Apple now use 100% recycled cobalt, all magnets use 100% recycled rare earth elements, and all Apple-designed printed circuit boards use 100% recycled gold plating and tin soldering. Apple also completed the transition to fully fiber-based packaging, fulfilling a pledge to remove all plastic from packaging by 2025, a goal the company says it reached across every package manufactured today.
Apple's greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 remain down over 60% compared to 2015 levels, holding constant from 2024 despite significant business growth. The company is working toward its Apple 2030 goal of carbon neutrality across its entire footprint by the end of the decade.
MacBook Neo leads the lineup on recycled material. It contains 60% recycled content overall, which is the most of any Apple device to date, and features a new aluminum forming process that uses half the raw material compared to traditional machining. Apple and its suppliers also developed an anodization process that achieves a 70% water-reuse rate, turning a traditionally water-intensive step into a near-closed-loop system. Apple said it plans to expand this process to additional production lines in coming years.
Apple launched Cora, a new electronics-recycling line at its Advanced Recovery Center in California, designed to achieve material recovery rates significantly higher than industry baselines using precision shredding and advanced sensor technology. The company also developed A.R.I.S., a machine learning-powered detection system that helps recyclers classify and sort electronic scrap, running on the Mac mini, which Apple is piloting with partner recyclers.
Apple's direct suppliers procured more than 20 gigawatts of renewable energy in 2025 through the Supplier Clean Energy Program, generating more than 38 million megawatt-hours of electricity, which is enough to power more than 3.4 million U.S. households for a year. Apple itself procured an additional 1.8 gigawatts to power its offices, retail stores, and data centers entirely on renewable electricity.
Apple and its suppliers saved 17 billion gallons of fresh water in 2025, and the company replenished more than half of the water it withdrew to support its global facilities. All eight Apple-owned data centers have now been certified to the Alliance for Water Stewardship standard. Apple has set a goal to replenish all water withdrawn by its facilities worldwide by 2030.
Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City became the company's first retail store to achieve TRUE Zero Waste Certification, which requires facilities to divert more than 90 percent of their waste from landfills. Across its supply chain, Apple and its suppliers redirected more than 600,000 metric tons of waste from landfills in 2025, with 400 supplier facilities participating in the company's Zero Waste Program.
A British paraplegic adventurer was being filmed for an Apple Vision Pro immersive video series during a fatal aircraft crash in the Jordanian desert in July 2024, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.
Claire Lomas became internationally recognized in 2012 when she became the first person to complete the London Marathon using a robotic exoskeleton suit, five years after being paralyzed from the waist down in a horse-riding accident. Apple was apparently working with London-based Atlantic Studios to film Lomas for its Apple Immersive Video series called Adventure. A camera system was mounted on the plane itself, and Lomas was actively being recorded when the crash occurred. Lomas died from her injuries within weeks of the crash at the age of 44.
The planned episode was set to showcase multiple Jordanian landmarks, including the Wadi Rum valley and the ancient city of Petra. The original release date for was sometime in 2025. Apple spent millions of dollars per episode on the series, with Atlantic producing and Apple distributing.
People involved with the production say there were broader safety concerns during the making of the Adventure series, including crews working longer hours than staff felt was safe, filming in harsh climates, and operating equipment in conditions the crew had limited training for. Staffers reportedly raised these concerns with their superiors at Apple, which in response sent a health and safety representative to work periodically alongside production staff. There is no record of other major injuries tied to the series.
Apple and Atlantic continued working together after the crash; a Colorado episode was filmed in August 2024. Apple has released five Adventure episodes to date, featuring athletes highlining 3,000 feet in the air, swimming under Arctic ice, parkouring across Paris, cliff diving in Spain, and racing cars in Colorado. No new episodes have been published since last year.
The Adventure series sits within Apple's broader Apple Immersive Video offering for the Vision Pro, which Apple describes as a "180-degree, 3D 8K recording format captured with Spatial Audio." The format is one of the headset's primary selling points and is used in in-store demonstrations of the $3,499 device.
iOS 27 is likely to introduce at least four new Apple Intelligence features that function within system apps, based on backend code discovered by Nicolás Alvarez and confirmed by MacRumors.
First up, Apple is expected to lean more heavily into Visual Intelligence in iOS 27, since the company is reportedly developing AI wearable devices that will leverage the feature. Apple is reportedly working on smart glasses, AirPods with cameras, and a wearable AI pin or pendant.
To that end, Visual Intelligence appears to be getting at least two new capabilities. One of them will likely let you scan a food nutrition label to get more information, which could well integrate into the Health app. Another will offer to add printed phone numbers/addresses to your Contacts. Visual Intelligence already offers to add calendar dates to your Calendar, so an equivalent feature for contacts makes sense.
Elsewhere, Apple's Wallet app is likely to gain the ability to generate digital passes from scans of things like event tickets, gym membership cards and the like. Google Wallet for Android already does something similar, using AI to determine the content of a pass.
Meanwhile, in Safari, we're expecting a new AI feature that will automatically name Tab Groups for users based on the contents of the tabs within the group.
We can't say with certainty that the above features will work as described, since we're interpreting them from the names of individual code strings. Likewise, we do not know for sure that they will appear in iOS 27 or a future point update of the upcoming software, but given that Apple is working on a smarter version of Siri for iOS 27 with deeper integration across apps, the timing fits.
Apple will unveil iOS 27 at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, before launching in September just ahead of when new iPhone models come out.
Apple has started ramping up its supply chain for a new variable aperture camera system expected to debut in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max this September, reports Korea's ETNews.
Apple has never implemented a variable aperture on an iPhone. From the iPhone 14 Pro through the iPhone 17 Pro, the main camera uses a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture, meaning the lens remains fully open at all times when capturing images.
In contrast, a variable aperture lets the camera control how much light reaches the sensor. In low-light conditions, it opens to admit more light, while in bright scenes, it closes to avoid overexposure. This should also give users more control over depth of field.
In December 2024, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was first to say that that the main rear camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture. A report from October 2025 said Apple was moving ahead with plans to bring the technology to next-generation iPhones and was discussing components with suppliers.
According to industry sources cited by today's report, Chinese supplier Sunny Optical has already started producing the actuators that enable the aperture mechanism, while camera module assembly will follow in early summer. Apple's primary camera partner LG Innotek is said to be preparing to begin production around June or July, with dedicated equipment being installed at its Gumi facility in South Korea. Module makers such as Cowell are also expected to take part in the process.
LG Innotek is reportedly likely to take on a larger share of production for the main camera module due to the system's added complexity. A similar thing happened when Apple adopted a folded tetraprism zoom lens in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, where LG Innotek initially served as the sole supplier.
Apple retail locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers will soon be able to restore Apple Watch software in-store without needing to send an Apple Watch to a service center, according to a retail source that spoke to MacRumors.
Right now, Apple Watches that can't be restored using an iPhone need to be mailed to an Apple Repair Center for service. There is no in-store repair option, so customers have to wait for the Apple Watch to be shipped to the repair depot, get repaired, and be shipped back.
Starting later this month, Apple Stores and AASPs will be able to use an Apple Watch repair dock that connects to a Mac to restore the software on an Apple Watch. An in-store option for fixing software will make software-based repairs much quicker.
With watchOS 8.5 and iOS 15.4, Apple introduced an iPhone-based wireless restore option, but it is limited. It can only be used when a restore prompt is shown on the Apple Watch. For software issues where the iPhone restore doesn't work, the Apple Watch needs a specialized repair currently unavailable in retail stores. Failed updates, bricked devices, and boot loops can't be fixed with an iPhone.
Early Apple Watch models had a diagnostic port that Apple Stores could use for software fixes, but it was removed with the Apple Watch Series 7, and Apple switched to a wireless restoration process. After the port was dropped, Apple Watch software repairs had to be done at Apple Service Centers, making software-based failures a hassle for customers.
Apple today stopped signing iOS 26.4, so iPhone users who have updated to iOS 26.4.1 are no longer able to downgrade to the earlier version of iOS. iOS 26.4.1 came out a week ago.
When software is "signed," it means it can pass the server-side verification check that Apple does when a user downloads a new version of iOS on an iPhone. An update that's not signed can't be installed because it won't pass the verification check.
Apple does not show users earlier versions of iOS after an upgrade has been released, but when software is still signed, it is possible to downgrade with the macOS Finder app on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC.
Unsigning software prevents Apple customers from installing outdated, less secure versions of iOS, and Apple typically stops signing an update a week or so after new software comes out.
iOS 26.4.1 fixed iCloud syncing issues and Stolen Device Protection on enterprise devices. While iOS 26.4.1 is the current publicly available version of iOS, Apple is also beta testing an iOS 26.5 update.
An iPhone exploit that involves a linked Visa card can allow attackers to steal money from a locked device using NFC, but the process is complex, requiring physical access and specialized hardware. The exploit was highlighted by popular YouTube channel Veritasium, and it involves tricking an iPhone into thinking it's making a payment at a mass transit terminal, a process that can be completed from a locked iPhone.
Cybersecurity researchers from the University of Surrey and the University of Birmingham developed the attack to bypass an iPhone's locked status and steal funds from a mobile wallet. The exploit was first publicized in 2021, and it bypasses traditional limits on transaction size. Veritasium demonstrated the attack by collecting $10,000 from YouTuber Marques Brownlee's locked iPhone.
The attack works using an NFC card reader that intercepts the communication between an iPhone and a tap-to-pay terminal when a payment is made. The card reader is connected to a laptop that collects payment data and sends it to a separate burner phone, which is then tapped on a legitimate card reader. The NFC device has to be tuned to the same transit terminal identifier as a legitimate transit reader.
The process requires the victim to have Express Transit Mode enabled for payments, and a Visa card linked for those payments, among other steps. As it turns out, it's a Visa-related security loophole rather than an iPhone issue, and it doesn't work with a Mastercard or an American Express card because other cards use different security methods. It also doesn't work with Samsung Pay on Samsung devices, and it requires the specific combination of a Visa card and an iPhone. Apple told Veritasium that it's an issue with the Visa system, but something unlikely to occur in the real world.
This is a concern with the Visa system, but Visa does not believe this kind of fraud is likely to take place in the real world. Visa has made it clear that their cardholders are protected by Visa's zero liability policy.
Visa also told Veritasium that the exploit was very unlikely from a scaled real world setting, and any such transactions can be disputed. The researchers who shared the exploit said users can protect themselves by not using a Visa card on the iPhone for transit purposes.
Apple is sending a large portion of its Siri engineers to a multi-week bootcamp to learn to code using AI, reports The Information. Apple's decision to teach its programmers to better use AI for coding comes just two months before Apple is expected to unveil a smarter, more capable version of Siri at WWDC.
While employees attend the coding bootcamp, around 60 members of the Siri development team will stick around to work on Siri, and an additional 60 will evaluate how Siri is performing. Apple is testing to make sure Siri is meeting its safety standards and is able to interpret and execute commands from users.
Coding with AI is becoming the standard, but Apple's Siri team apparently isn't taking full advantage of AI coding tools. The Information says that some teams within Apple have allocated large parts of their budgets to Claude Code, but the Siri team has a "reputation as a laggard inside Apple."
Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi took over and oversees AI development, and Mike Rockwell, who developed the Vision Pro, is the Siri team lead. Under Federighi, Apple inked a deal with Google that will see Siri and other AI features powered by Google's Gemini models.
Google is bringing Gemini to the Mac with a new native macOS app that's available starting today. Gemini for Mac can be activated with a keyboard shortcut, and it has built-in tools for generating images, analyzing what's on your screen, reviewing files, and more.
Gemini is the last of the three major AI services to have a dedicated Mac app, because OpenAI and Anthropic have had Mac apps for quite some time.
Gemini can be brought up anywhere on the Mac with an Option + Space keyboard command, so there's no need to swap over to a dedicated window. Option + Shift + Space is available for opening the full Gemini chat window. Gemini can also be accessed from the Dock or through the Menu Bar.
Any window on the Mac can be shared with Gemini, allowing Gemini to provide contextual assistance on anything that you're looking at. After activating Gemini, selecting the Share Window option will let Gemini see what it is you want to ask questions about. Gemini will need Accessibility access to read full pages in a browser window.
Nano Banana is available for creating images, and Veo can be used for generating videos.
Gemini for Mac is available for Macs running macOS 15 and later, and it is free to download and use. Free access to Gemini is limited, and Google has subscription plans with increased usage limits. Google AI Plus is $7.99 per month, Google AI Pro is $19.99 per month, and Google AI Ultra is $249.99 per month.
Google says that the Mac app is the first step toward a personal, proactive, and powerful desktop assistant, with more news to follow in the coming months.
According to the latest rumors, Apple is close to launching its next-generation iPad mini. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out.
Processor and Performance
Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to information found in code that Apple mistakenly shared in August.
Apple's A19 Pro chip since debuted in the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. The iPhone 17 Pro models include the higher-end version of Apple's A19 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU, while the iPhone Air uses a mid-tier A19 Pro chip with one fewer GPU core than the A19 Pro chip used in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
If the code leak is accurate for the iPad mini 8, Apple is likely to use the mid-tier A19 Pro chip found in the iPhone Air. This is based on the fact that the A17 Pro chip used in the iPad mini 7 has a 6-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores, along with a 5-core GPU, compared to the 6-core GPU found on the A17 Pro used in the iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple built the A19 Pro chip on an upgraded third-generation 3-nanometer N3P process for modest speed and efficiency improvements. The chip includes a 16-core Neural Engine, next-generation dynamic caching, and unified image compression.
The GPU in the A19 Pro has an upgraded architecture with a larger cache, more memory, and Neural Accelerators that are built into each core. Apple says that this change provides 3× the peak GPU compute over the prior-generation chip. There's also an upgraded 16-core Neural Engine for AI tasks.
There is an outside chance that Apple opts for the A20 Pro chip for the new iPad mini. The claim has been made by a MacRumors tipster who analyzed a macOS kernel debug kit containing internal Apple codenames. However, the iPad mini has not always received Apple's newest A-series chip at the time it was updated, so the A19 Pro cannot be ruled out at this time. iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to use the A20 Pro chip, which will reportedly be fabricated with TSMC's advanced 2nm process.
Display
Apple's plan to transition the iPad mini from an LCD to an OLED display is widely rumored. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the small form-factor tablet is likely to be the next Apple device to adopt OLED. According to a Chinese leaker with sources in Apple's supply chain, Apple has evaluated a Samsung-made OLED display for its next iPad mini model.
It remains unclear whether the iPad mini 8 will feature a higher refresh rate than the 60Hz LCD display used in the existing iPad mini 7, but since the new base iPhone 17 now uses a 120Hz ProMotion panel, it would be reasonable to expect the same on the first OLED iPad mini. A separate report has suggested the iPad mini 8's screen could increase in size from 8.3 inches to 8.7 inches with the adoption of OLED.
OLED panels can individually control each pixel, resulting in more precise color reproduction and deeper blacks compared to other common display technologies. They also provide superior contrast, faster response times, better viewing angles, and greater design flexibility. All of Apple's flagship iPhones use OLED panels, and in May 2024 the company brought the display technology to the iPad Pro for the first time.
Unlike Apple's iPad Pro models, which feature two-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels, the iPad mini may have a single-stack low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panel, which would make it dimmer.
Chassis Design
Apple is reportedly working to give the iPad mini 8 a more water-resistant design, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The updated casing would bring protection levels closer to those of the iPhone, making the tablet safer for use in damp environments.
To achieve this, Apple is said to have designed a new vibration-based speaker system that eliminates the need for traditional speaker holes. By using sound-emitting surfaces instead of open grilles, the company can reduce potential entry points for water and dust, resulting in a more sealed, durable enclosure.
On the iPhone, Apple relies on adhesives and gaskets to shield speakers and other openings from moisture. The iPad mini's approach appears to go further, doing away with the holes altogether. Current iPad mini models lack any official IP rating, but the upcoming version could mark the first in the lineup to feature a certified level of water protection.
Apple patents could offer further clues to the new design direction. For example, a 2014 patent outlines a "mechanically actuated panel acoustic system" that vibrates flat surfaces to generate sound, effectively turning parts of a device's chassis into a speaker diaphragm. This could potentially allow Apple to produce audio without visible speaker holes. The patent suggest Apple has been building towards a sealed, vibration-based acoustic system for several years.
Release Date
According to research firm Omdia, the iPad mini is expected to adopt an OLED display in 2027. However, Korea's ET News and ZDNET Korea have both suggested that the iPad mini will be updated with an OLED display in 2026. Bloomberg has also said the update could come as soon as this year.
The most recent word on the subject comes from Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital, who claims the OLED iPad mini will be launched in the second half of 2026 at the earliest.
In May 2024, it was reported that Samsung Display had started developing sample OLED panels for a future iPad mini, with plans to initiate mass production at its facility in Cheonan in the second half of 2025. The same report claimed that Apple will bring an OLED panel to the iPad Air alongside the iPad mini in 2026, though Apple only refreshed the iPad Air in March, and more recent reporting suggests an OLED iPad Air will arrive in early 2027.
The latter outlook aligns with a December report by analyst firm Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) that said an 8.5-inch OLED iPad mini is planned for a 2026 launch, while 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Air models are expected to follow in 2027.
Ultimately, there are no rumors suggesting exactly when the next iPad mini will be released, but a launch later in 2026 has a high probability.
Pricing
Apple's iPad mini with OLED display technology and improved water resistance is expected to be more expensive, and Apple could charge up to $100 more for the device, according to Bloomberg's Gurman. The iPad mini is currently priced starting at $499. Gurman has previously argued that Apple should consider a lower-end version of the mini, or at least a change to its current $499 starting price, given that it's up against rival products that cost a lot less.
However, Apple users who are looking for a more affordable option should probably consider the 10th-generation iPad instead. Starting at $329, the iPad offers many iPad mini features, such as Touch ID and Center Stage, but at a lower price that balances functionality and affordability.
Apple today announced a series of events tied to this year's TCS London Marathon, with the company serving as an official partner of the race.
The TCS London Marathon is one of the world's most popular marathons and takes place on Sunday, April 26, drawing athletes of all abilities from around the world. A record-breaking one million people applied to enter the ballot for the 2026 event.
Apple will host two free events at its Brompton Road store in the days before the race. On Thursday, April 23, a panel including fitness trainer Joe Wicks, ultramarathon runner Hellah Sidibe, and athletes Dora Atim, Becky Briggs, and Sherica Holmon will offer training tips before a 5K shakeout run in Hyde Park, hosted by Apple Fitness+ trainer Cory Wharton-Malcolm. Spots are limited and registration is now open.
On Saturday, April 25, former marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe and two-time Olympian Chris Thompson will record a live episode of their podcast, Paula's Run Club, also at Brompton Road, joined by Wharton-Malcolm. The episode closes out their "Road to London Marathon" series. Registration is available for that event as well.
On race day, Apple Music will station artists and DJs at a key point on the course. An official Ultimate Marathon Playlist spanning seven hours is available now on Apple Music, with additional mixes from race-day DJs to follow after the event.
Ahead of marathon week, Apple will host a PE with Apple: Hour of Play event for students from six schools in the London borough of Wandsworth, with Wicks and Fitness+ trainers leading physical activities for children ages 10 to 14, in partnership with nonprofit Enable. Apple also pointed out that it supports several other Greater London organizations, including Battersea Arts Centre, Southbank Centre, Youth Battersea, and Wandsworth BEST.
Amazon recently introduced fresh deals on the Apple Watch Ultra 3, providing $99 discounts on select models. These are the best prices on the Ultra 3 that we've tracked so far in 2026, and they're overall solid second-best prices.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can get the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for $699.99 in the Natural color option, down from $799.00. There are also a few Milanese Loop models on sale for $799.99, down from $899.00.
We've collected all of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 models currently on sale on Amazon in the list below. All of these deals are within $19 of the all-time low price, and they're the best prices we've seen so far in 2026.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Apple privately warned Elon Musk's xAI company in January that it would remove the Grok app from the App Store unless the company put a stop to the chatbot's nude and sexualized deepfakes, according to a letter Apple sent to U.S. senators and obtained by NBC News ($).
Earlier this year, Grok's AI capabilities came under scrutiny after X users shared nonconsensual sexualized images of women and children created by the app, many of which were based on photos of real people.
What followed was a confusing rollout of moderation changes to Grok, some of which could be easily bypassed. Publicly, Apple did not comment on the controversy at the time, but it did respond, and was in fact the instigator of the changes. Internally, the company had found both X and Grok in violation of its App Store guidelines and demanded its developers submit a content moderation plan, the letter reveals.
According to the letter, Apple rejected an initial fix from xAI as insufficient, saying the "changes didn't go far enough," and Apple warned it that additional alterations were required or Grok would be removed. After further back-and-forth, however, Apple eventually concluded that a later submission of the app had improved enough for it to be approved.
The disclosure was apparently prompted by a January letter from Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Luján, and Edward Markey, who urged Apple and Google to pull both apps, arguing the imagery violated App Store rules barring offensive, sexual, and exploitative content.
The senators also said that Apple's response would test its own arguments, since the company has long defended its curated App Store by claiming its review process keeps users safer. Letting Grok continue to generate this kind of imagery, they argued, would undermine that case in the eyes of the public and in a court of law.
After NBC News published its report, X posted the following statement on its platform:
"We strictly prohibit users from generating non-consensual explicit deepfakes and from using our tools to undress real people. xAI has extensive safeguards in place to prevent such misuse, such as continuous monitoring of public usage, analysis of evasion attempts in real time, frequent model updates, prompt filters, and additional safeguards."
While the amount of sexualized deepfakes created by Grok and posted to X appears to have decreased significantly, NBC News found that Grok is still able to generate similar imagery, with some users apparently having simply updated their prompt tactics to get around the safeguards. You can read that report in its entirety by following this link.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple will bring OLED displays to its iPad Air models next year, according to a new report from Korea's ET News.
Citing industry sources, the outlet says Samsung Display will begin mass production of OLED panels around the end of 2026 or January next year, with a view to supplying panels for Apple's next iPad Air, expected to be released in early 2027. Apple last updated the iPad Air in March 2026 with an M4 chip.
Apple's iPad Pro models already have OLED displays, but the iPad Air models still use more affordable LCD displays that Apple calls Liquid Retina. The Liquid Retina displays do not support 120Hz ProMotion display technology, and are limited to 60Hz refresh rates.
OLED panels individually control each pixel, resulting in more precise color reproduction and deeper blacks compared to LCD. They also provide superior contrast, faster response times, better viewing angles, and greater design flexibility.
That said, unlike Apple's iPad Pro models, which feature two-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels, the iPad Air is expected to use single-stack low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panels, meaning that they may be dimmer and continue to lack ProMotion.
Apple's plan to transition the iPad mini from an LCD to an OLED display is already widely rumored, with reports suggesting the iPad mini 8 will adopt OLED later this year, albeit using the same cheaper single-stack LTPS panel.
Once the iPad mini and iPad Air receive the display upgrade, the entry-level iPad will be the only model in Apple's tablet lineup without an OLED panel.
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