Apple plans to open up Siri to rival AI assistants in iOS 27 update

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 27, 2026 | Technology

By Mark Gurman

Apple Inc. plans to open Siri to outside artificial intelligence assistants, a major move aimed at bolstering the iPhone as an AI platform.

The company is preparing to make the change as part of a Siri overhaul in its upcoming iOS 27 operating system update, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The assistant can already tap into ChatGPT through a partnership with OpenAI, but Apple will now allow competing services to do the same.

The changes are part of an attempt to turn around Apple’s fortunes in artificial intelligence, where it has lagged behind Silicon Valley peers. Revamping Siri, first launched nearly 15 years ago, is central to the comeback plan. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment.

The company is developing new tools to allow AI chatbot apps installed via the App Store to integrate with the Siri assistant, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven’t been announced. The chatbots will also work with an upcoming Siri app and other features in the Apple Intelligence platform.

That means, for instance, if users have Alphabet Inc.’s Google Gemini or Anthropic PBC’s Claude installed, they’d be able to send queries to those services from within the Siri voice assistant, just like they have been able to with ChatGPT since Apple Intelligence launched in 2024.

The approach also should allow Apple to generate more money from third-party AI subscriptions through the App Store.

The change is separate from Apple’s work with Google to rebuild Siri using Gemini models. That arrangement is related to the underlying Apple technology for Siri. The new so-called Extensions system, meanwhile, would allow users to process requests via the actual Gemini service — assuming Google enables its app to do so.

Still, the news initially weighed on shares of Google, sending them to a session low on Thursday. The stock closed at $280.92, down 3.4%, while Apple was little changed at $252.89.

The Cupertino, California-based company is planning to announce its latest software on June 8 at its Worldwide Developers Conference, and the features could still change before then or get delayed. On its website, the iPhone maker is promising details on “AI advancements” at the event.

The Extensions system in testing will let users enable or disable which services they want to work inside Siri via a menu in the iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 settings panel for Apple Intelligence and Siri.

“Extensions allow agents from installed apps to work with Siri, the Siri app and other features on your devices,” according to a message inside test versions of the upcoming operating systems. Users will be directed to a new App Store section from this menu to add additional AI services.

The move would jettison the exclusive role of ChatGPT within Apple software. From the outset, there was internal debate over whether OpenAI was the right partner, with former Apple AI chief John Giannandrea questioning the startup’s staying power and favoring a Google deal.

Before picking ChatGPT as its Apple Intelligence launch partner, Apple held a bake-off internally with AI chatbots. After a negotiation period, it ultimately went with the OpenAI product, calling it the best available option at the time.

The new strategy would eliminate the need for one-off integration deals like the ChatGPT one. That means the company can add multiple external AI services more quickly and potentially expand the use of AI across its operating systems without entering business discussions.

Today, users can route Siri queries to ChatGPT by explicitly requesting the OpenAI service. Under the new system, people would instead specify which AI service to use for each query.

Other major AI platforms are available as apps on Apple’s platforms, including Perplexity, Amazon.com Inc.’s Alexa, Meta Platforms Inc.’s Meta AI, xAI’s Grok and Microsoft Corp.’s Copilot. It’s unclear if Apple will allow any AI app to be added to Siri or if there will be a specific approval process.

During the development of Apple Intelligence, the company envisioned Siri connecting to multiple AI services and gave an example of having specialized chatbots, such as one for doctors. Apple said in 2024 that it was working on Gemini integration, but that effort never materialized.

Under the new approach, Apple could expand its services revenue by taking a slice of paid subscriptions from the competing AI services it will be touting on its devices. Apple makes money from the current ChatGPT service by offering up its payment system when customers are signing up for higher-end tiers.

Opening up Siri is one of several AI initiatives in the works. Apple is preparing a Siri app and a new interface, Bloomberg News reported this week. The company is also unifying Siri with its Spotlight search feature and adding new entry points like “Ask Siri” and “Write with Siri” toggles.

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Apple gives iPhone designers rare bonuses to fight OpenAI poaching

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 27, 2026 | Technology

By Mark Gurman

Apple Inc. awarded rare bonuses to iPhone hardware designers this week, aiming to stem a wave of departures to AI startups like OpenAI that are building their own devices.

The company granted out-of-cycle bonuses worth several hundred thousand dollars to many members of its iPhone Product Design team, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Apple’s leadership has grown increasingly concerned about the number of engineers being poached by potential rivals. OpenAI, which has tapped former Apple design chief Jony Ive to help design a new generation of AI-centric products, has emerged as a particular threat.

The bonuses were issued as stock units that vest over four years, meaning employees must remain at Apple to receive the full value, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the move wasn’t public. It’s a typical structure for Apple stock-based pay packages.

In many cases, the awards — separate from Apple’s typical bonuses — are worth roughly $200,000 to $400,000 over the full vesting period. The packages could ultimately offer a bigger payoff depending on the company’s stock performance.

A spokesperson for the Cupertino, California-based company declined to comment.

Employees see the pay bumps as a direct response to a recent uptick in recruiting from startups. Still, the bonuses are a fraction of what OpenAI and others are offering. In some cases, those companies are paying individual Apple engineers roughly $1 million in stock annually to jump ship.

OpenAI’s hardware division is run in part by Apple veteran Tang Tan. He used to oversee the iPhone product design team that’s receiving the bonuses.

Tan’s group at OpenAI has hired several dozen Apple engineers, and not just ones who worked on the iPhone. The startup has lured employees who helped develop the iPad, Apple Watch and Vision Pro.

Apple’s iPhone product design group is now run by longtime executive Rich Dinh and is located within its hardware engineering division under John Ternus. Product design, or PD, is responsible for engineering the look and functionality of products, as well as executing the vision of the industrial design team.

New startups, meanwhile, continue to target the device market. This past week, Figure AI founder Brett Adcock outlined plans for a new AI gadgets company called Hark. The firm’s lead designer, Abidur Chowdhury, was an industrial designer for the iPhone Air. The startup has also hired Apple product design engineers Jack McCambridge and Alex Gould.

OpenAI and Hark are developing families of AI devices aimed at supplanting the iPhone as consumers’ primary hardware. Apple, for its part, is working to counter the shift with its own lineup of AI-driven products, including smart glasses, new AirPods, and a pendant equipped with the Siri assistant and computer-vision cameras.

The industry’s rapid shift to AI caught Apple flat-footed, and engineers and designers have increasingly been on the lookout for new opportunities.

While the bonuses are unusual, it’s not the first time Apple has taken such a step. During poaching concerns three years ago, the company handed out similar packages, Bloomberg News reported at the time.

Last year, during a talent war for AI researchers, Apple also increased pay for its in-house models group. At the time, Meta Platforms Inc. was making employment offers worth more than $100 million in some cases.

The loss of key engineering talent — from rank-and-file employees to senior leaders — is emerging as one of Apple’s biggest headwinds as it approaches its 50th anniversary next month.

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Tech Wrap March 26: Galaxy A57, A37 launch, Lyria 3 Pro, WhatsApp update

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 26, 2026 | Technology

Samsung has introduced two new Galaxy A-series smartphones – Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 – in India. These newly launched devices emphasise AI-based features powered by One UI 8.5, including tools such as Voice Transcription, AI Select, Object Eraser, and Circle to Search with multi-object recognition. In addition, the Galaxy A57 comes with features like Best Face and Auto Trim for photos and videos. Both smartphones also include updated versions of Bixby and Google Gemini to enable more natural interactions and smoother cross-app task handling.

Google has unveiled Lyria 3 Pro, an enhanced version of its AI music generation model designed to produce longer and more structured tracks. According to Google, the updated model enables users to create music of up to three minutes in length and is being rolled out across several Google platforms, including the Gemini app and Google Vids.

WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new privacy-focused feature that could allow messages to disappear after they have been read on Android devices. As per WABetaInfo, the feature has been identified in the latest beta version and is currently under development. The report notes that this builds on the existing disappearing messages feature, which already lets users set messages to vanish after a selected duration. The new option is expected to provide more control by enabling messages to disappear shortly after being viewed.

Samsung has launched its Samsung Browser for Windows, extending its mobile browser experience to PCs with a focus on seamless cross-device use and integrated AI features. The company said the browser allows users to switch between mobile and PC without losing their browsing progress. It also introduces an AI assistant powered by Perplexity AI, which can understand webpage content, user activity, and natural language queries to simplify common browsing tasks.

Realme is preparing to launch the Realme 16 5G in India on April 2. Ahead of the launch, the company has revealed several details about the smartphone, including its design, battery, and camera features. The device features a rear “selfie mirror” aimed at making it easier to take selfies using the main camera. It also includes a 7,000mAh battery, which the company claims can deliver up to two days of usage.

Samsung has rolled out support for Android Quick Share–Apple AirDrop interoperability for the Galaxy S26 series in India, allowing users to wirelessly share files with iPhones without using third-party apps. According to the company, this AirDrop support is currently limited to the Galaxy S26 series, with plans to expand it to other devices later. The rollout began on March 23 in South Korea and is now reaching additional regions, including India.

Social media platform X experienced a short outage on Thursday, affecting thousands of users globally, including in India, according to outage tracking platform Downdetector. Reports of issues began rising around 12:20 pm IST. By 12:43 pm, over 34,000 users in the US had reported problems. More than 10,000 users in the UK, over 3,000 in Germany, and around 1,800 in India also flagged disruptions. Services were restored by around 1 pm.

Samsung may be working on another book-style foldable smartphone with a wider design, aimed at competing with Apple’s expected foldable iPhone. According to a report by Android Headlines, the device, referred to as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, could be introduced later this year alongside the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8, featuring a broader aspect ratio.

Reddit has announced new steps to identify bots and confirm human users on its platform, in response to growing AI-driven activity online. In a post, Reddit co-founder and CEO Steve Huffman said the company will introduce clear labels for automated accounts and may require some users to verify that they are human, while maintaining that it will not seek real-world identity information.

Krafton India has launched the BGMI Cricket League, a limited-time cricket-themed minigame within Battlegrounds Mobile India. The company said the feature allows players to take part in in-game activities linked to real-world matches and earn rewards. This follows the introduction of IPL-themed in-game items inspired by CSK and KKR franchises.

Samsung’s Galaxy S-series has long defined the standard for Android flagships. However, in recent years, updates have felt more incremental than groundbreaking. With the Galaxy S26, Samsung continues on a similar path.

Tech giant Microsoft is overhauling its human resources (HR) team, with Chief People Officer Amy Coleman urging employees to prioritise “adaptability” and “set a new pace” amid rapid organisational changes and AI-powered transformation, according to a report published by Business Insider on Wednesday.

Social media giants Meta and YouTube deliberately designed “addictive products” that eventually caused harm to a young woman, a Los Angeles court ruled on Wednesday. The jury found that neither company sufficiently warned users about the possible risks associated with their products, The Guardian reported.

A landmark jury verdict holding Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google liable for harming a young user with products designed to be addictive threatens to put the social networking companies in the same category as Big Tobacco and opioid makers — a potential crack in their shield from legal responsibility for what happens on their platforms.

OpenAI is tapping Kiran Mani, the chief executive officer of Indian streaming platform JioStar, for a newly created role leading its Asia-Pacific operations. Mani will take up the position of managing director for the region in June, relocating to the ChatGPT maker’s Singapore office and reporting to Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the move. Mani couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Google’s top India counsel, Bijoya Roy, has resigned after 16 months in the role, two sources said, a high-profile exit in a key ‌market where the US tech giant is facing regulatory hurdles and also lacks a government relations head. India is crucial for Alphabet’s Google since most smartphones in the country run on its Android operating system, even as Apple’s share is growing steadily.

As the global race for artificial intelligence (AI) heats up, the AI ecosystem is being reframed around an unlikely and less-heard-about metric called tokens. These units of text, code, and data, which once were a back-end technical detail, are fast emerging as the basis of how artificial intelligence is priced, deployed, and scaled. As companies move from experimental chatbots to high-volume AI agents, token consumption is rising sharply, turning cost per token into a critical factor for developers and businesses alike.

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India tech spending growth to dip slightly in 2026: Forrester report

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 26, 2026 | Technology

India’s technology spending will inch down to 13.4 per cent for 2026, from 13.7 per cent a year ago, according to a report by Forrester.

As Asia Pacific’s fastest-growing market, India is being propelled by rapid cloud adoption and data localisation rules that are driving major onshore infrastructure investment. Software investment is also rising as vendors embed AI capabilities into renewal pricing, while domestic enterprise demand continues to be the primary driver of India’s double-digit tech spending growth.

While the overall spend may dip, it will still be the second-highest in Asia, with Vietnam topping the list at 15.4 per cent. The major economies of China, Singapore and Australia’s tech spending will be 10.7 per cent, 6 per cent and 8.6 per cent, respectively.

“India’s double-digit technology spending growth is being propelled by a combination of cloud acceleration, regulatory clarity, and strong domestic demand,” said Ashutosh Sharma, vice-president and research director at Forrester. “With data localisation shaping infrastructure strategies and enterprises expanding AI-ready platforms, the priority now is to digitise processes beyond core systems and build scalable data foundations. CIOs that balance compliance requirements with investments in automation and AI-enabled capabilities will be best positioned to capture this next phase of growth.”

The DPDP Rules 2025 mandate data residency for significant data fiduciaries, spurring data centre growth of more than 20 per cent in the next year. GCC expansion and government digital programmes are also expected to provide additional momentum.

The average IT salary in APAC will rise by about 5 per cent in 2026, outpacing inflation. Tech salaries will jump by nearly 10 per cent in India, the highest in the region, thanks to strong IT spending growth.

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WhatsApp may soon let you send messages that disappear after being read

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 26, 2026 | Technology

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new privacy feature that could make messages disappear after they are read on Android devices. According to WABetaInfo, the feature has been spotted in the latest beta version and is currently under development. The report added that the feature builds on the existing disappearing messages option, which already allows users to set messages to vanish after certain durations. The new option is supposed to offer more control by letting messages disappear shortly after being seen.

Disappearing message feature: How it works

According to the report, the feature was found in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.12.2 on the Google Play Store. It introduces a new timer option for disappearing messages called “After reading”. This builds on the existing disappearing messages feature, which already allows users to set messages to vanish after a fixed time.

At present, users can choose between 24 hours, 7 days and 90 days for messages to disappear. The report mentioned that the new option will offer more control, especially for messages that are meant to be seen only once or for a short duration.

With the new setting enabled, messages will disappear 15 minutes after they are read. If the recipient does not open the message, it will automatically disappear after 24 hours.

On the sender’s side, messages will be removed 15 minutes after being sent, regardless of whether they have been read. This means both sides of the chat will eventually lose access to the message, helping keep conversations private. Users will also be able to apply this setting either to specific chats or across all conversations.

Privacy and control

As per the report, the feature is designed for situations where messages need to be short-lived. For example, users sharing sensitive information, quick updates or temporary details may prefer messages that disappear soon after being viewed.

The feature will work even if read receipts are turned off. Messages will still disappear based on the timer, ensuring that privacy is maintained without relying on read status.

Availability

The “After reading” option is still being developed and is expected to roll out in a future update. WhatsApp is currently refining how the feature works before making it available to beta testers, followed by a wider release.

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Cricket League minigame comes to BGMI: How to win M416 Glacier skin, more

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 26, 2026 | Technology

2 min read Last Updated : Mar 26 2026 | 3:51 PM IST

Krafton India has announced the launch of the BGMI Cricket League, a limited-time cricket-themed minigame within Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). The company said the feature allows players to engage with real-world matches through in-game participation and win rewards. This development comes on the heels of IPL franchises CSK and KKR-themed in-game items going live.

The company said that the BGMI Cricket League will be available starting March 27 and will let players select teams based on ongoing matches. If the chosen team wins, players receive Support and Win Spin Tokens. These tokens can be used in the Glacier Lucky Spin to unlock in-game rewards, including the M416 Glacier weapon skin.

As part of the event, Krafton has brought back the M416 Glacier skin for a limited time. The company said this will be the last opportunity for players to obtain the item within the game.

Krafton said that consistent participation can improve chances of earning higher-value rewards. The company is also releasing cricket-themed promotional films to highlight the feature and connect with players during the season.

CSK and KKR-themed collectables in BGMI

Krafton has introduced two team-based collaborations in Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) as part of the 4.3 update, bringing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)-themed content into the game. According to Krafton India, both collaborations add exclusive in-game collectables along with Photo Booth Points of Interest across Erangel and Livik maps, where players can capture in-game moments alongside team players.

The CSK collaboration includes the Thala Legacy Set outfit and Thala Monster Truck skin, while the KKR collaboration brings the Knight Dominion Set outfit and Eden Charge Buggy skin. Both updates also add team-specific Photo Booth locations across maps, enabling players to interact with themed environments and capture gameplay moments tied to the franchises.

First Published: Mar 26 2026 | 3:51 PM IST

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