CMF Watch 3 Pro review: Good GPS tracking, long battery life steal the show

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

CMF has been steadily refining its smartwatch lineup rather than reinventing it with every generation. The new Watch 3 Pro follows the same philosophy. At first glance, it looks familiar, retaining the circular design language and Bluetooth calling functionality seen on earlier models. Spend some time with it, however, and the upgrades become more apparent.

The Watch 3 Pro arrives with a larger AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, upgraded health sensors, a custom running coach, recording transcription, and integration with the Nothing X app. On paper, these additions make it a notable upgrade over the Watch Pro 2.

I used the CMF Watch 3 Pro as my primary smartwatch for several days, wearing it throughout the day, during workouts, outdoor runs, sleep-tracking sessions, and while handling calls directly from my wrist. The goal was simple: to find out whether these upgrades genuinely improve the experience or merely look impressive on a specification sheet.

Design and build

The CMF Watch 3 Pro sticks with the circular design that has become a familiar part of CMF’s smartwatch lineup. The design feels clean and understated, making it suitable for both casual and professional settings.

The precision-milled aluminium alloy case gives the watch a premium appearance. It does not feel like an entry-level smartwatch when worn, while the metal finish around the body adds a degree of sophistication.

One notable change compared to the Watch Pro 2 is the removal of interchangeable bezels. Depending on how much you used that feature on the previous model, this may or may not matter. Personally, it had little impact on my day-to-day experience, but users who enjoyed changing the appearance of their watch may miss the extra customisation options.

The bundled silicone strap is comfortable and feels well made. During testing, I wore the watch for extended periods, including overnight sleep tracking and outdoor workouts. The strap remained flexible and comfortable, although I did notice some sweat accumulation underneath regardless of how tightly or loosely it was adjusted.

On my wrist, the Watch 3 Pro had a distinctly sporty appearance. The circular dial, metallic frame and chunky profile give it more presence than many budget smartwatches. In fact, the first thing that came to mind when I strapped it on was Ben 10’s Omnitrix. While it is nowhere near as bulky, the overall silhouette carries a similar vibe. It manages to feel playful and sporty while still looking premium.

On the right side sits a single metallic crown that handles most navigation. A press wakes the display, opens the app menu or takes you back, while it can also be used to pause workouts. I found myself using the crown frequently, particularly when scrolling through longer menus, as it felt quicker and more precise than repeatedly swiping the touchscreen.

The Watch 3 Pro carries an IP68 rating, providing protection against dust and water exposure during everyday use.

Display and user experience

CMF has equipped the Watch 3 Pro with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 466×466 pixels.

The panel looks sharp, colours are vibrant, and text remains crisp throughout the interface. Whether I was checking workout statistics, browsing menus or reading notifications, the display remained easy to read.

The larger screen also makes a noticeable difference in daily use. Menus and widgets feel less cramped, while notifications are easier to read at a glance. In fact, the text is large enough that someone nearby can often read incoming notifications as well. While that improves visibility, privacy-conscious users may view it differently.

Outdoor visibility is good. Whether walking outdoors or checking notifications in bright sunlight, the screen remained legible. The ambient light sensor also works well, automatically adjusting brightness without requiring manual intervention.

Raise-to-wake worked adequately, though not perfectly. There were occasional instances where the display failed to wake on the first wrist movement, requiring either a second gesture or a tap on the screen. It is a minor annoyance rather than a major issue.

Navigation is straightforward. Swiping down opens quick settings, swiping up reveals notifications, and horizontal swipes move between widgets. These widgets can be customised through the Nothing X app.

The rotating crown deserves special mention. A single press opens the app menu, while a double press triggers the voice assistant on the connected smartphone. Combined with smooth scrolling, it became my preferred navigation method over touch gestures.

Overall, the display and software experience feel polished and intuitive.

Bluetooth calling

Bluetooth calling turned out to be one of my favourite features on the Watch 3 Pro.

Many smartwatches support calling, but the experience is often compromised by weak speakers or poor microphone performance. That was not the case here.

During my testing, call quality was consistently good. Indoors, conversations were clear, while outdoors, calls remained perfectly usable without needing to raise my voice or immediately switch back to my smartphone.

The watch also provides access to contacts, call logs and a dial pad, allowing calls to be managed directly from the wrist.

More importantly, this is one of the few smartwatches where I found myself using Bluetooth calling regularly rather than treating it as a novelty.

Software and companion app

The Watch 3 Pro pairs with the Nothing X app, which now acts as the central hub for setup and management. The dashboard presents daily activity information, including steps, calories burned, activity minutes, sleep data, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, stress tracking, active score and training load. The layout is clean and easy to navigate.

CMF also offers more than 120 watch faces. Many can be customised further, allowing users to adjust colours and information layouts. The app also handles notifications, Bluetooth calling contacts, health tracking settings and general watch controls.

One of the new additions is recording transcription.

The feature allows users to record a short voice note directly from the watch and send it to the Nothing X app, where it is automatically converted into text. During testing, the feature handled clear speech reasonably well and proved useful for quickly capturing reminders and article ideas while on the move.

At present, transcription works only in English.

Overall, the software experience feels functional, organised and easy to use.

Fitness tracking and GPS performance

Fitness tracking is clearly an area where CMF has invested considerable effort.

The Watch 3 Pro supports 131 sports modes and records a broad range of workout data, including duration, heart rate, pace, calories burned, distance, recovery time, training load and activity scores.

The new Custom Running Coach is a welcome addition. The feature creates structured training plans aimed at helping users prepare for a 10K run. While useful, it currently feels like the beginning of a broader fitness ecosystem rather than a fully developed coaching platform.

The standout upgrade is dual-band GPS.

The watch supports multiple satellite systems and acquired GPS signals quickly during testing. Tracking remained stable throughout outdoor walks and runs, while recorded routes appeared consistent and accurate.

Built-in GPS also means users can leave their smartphones behind while still recording detailed workout information.

Sleep, heart rate, SpO2 and stress tracking

Health tracking remains one of the strengths of the Watch 3 Pro.

Sleep tracking proved reliable during my testing. The watch automatically detected sleep and wake times accurately and provided breakdowns of sleep stages along with overall sleep scores.

The upgraded sensors also appear to improve overall accuracy. Heart-rate monitoring remained consistent throughout daily use and workouts, while occasional comparisons with other devices revealed no major discrepancies.

Blood oxygen monitoring is available as well. Like most smartwatches, these readings should not be treated as medical-grade measurements, but they offer a useful snapshot of overall wellness.

Stress monitoring is included too, although some related options need to be enabled manually through the settings.

Users can also customise monitoring intervals and receive alerts for unusually high or low heart-rate readings, as well as low blood oxygen levels.

Naturally, enabling continuous monitoring across all health metrics has an impact on battery life, but that trade-off is expected.

Battery life

Battery life is easily one of the strongest reasons to consider the Watch 3 Pro. One of the reasons I continue to appreciate analogue watches is that they do not need regular charging. Many smartwatches become another device demanding attention every few days. The Watch 3 Pro largely avoids that problem.

During testing, I enabled continuous heart-rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress monitoring, notifications and regular GPS-based walks. I also took several Bluetooth calls directly from the watch.

Even with all those features active, the battery comfortably lasted more than a week on a single charge.

More importantly, I rarely found myself thinking about battery life at all. The watch quietly did its job without demanding constant attention.

When charging is eventually required, the included magnetic charger completes a full charge in roughly 90 minutes.

For me, that is perhaps the biggest compliment I can give the Watch 3 Pro. A smartwatch should make life easier, not become another device that constantly needs managing. The battery life here strikes that balance exceptionally well.

Verdict

The CMF Watch 3 Pro turned out to be better than I expected. Going into this review, I expected another budget smartwatch packed with features but weighed down by compromises. Instead, I found a smartwatch that gets most of the important things right.

The display is bright, GPS performance is reliable, Bluetooth calling is genuinely useful, and the health-tracking features are accurate enough for everyday use. But the standout feature is battery life.

One of the reasons I still wear analogue watches more often than smartwatches is that I dislike worrying about charging another device. The moment a smartwatch starts asking for power every couple of days, it becomes something I need to manage rather than something that quietly fits into my routine.

The Watch 3 Pro avoids that problem.

It is not perfect. The running coach still feels like a work in progress, raise-to-wake occasionally misses a gesture, and some users may miss the interchangeable bezels from the previous generation.

None of those shortcomings, however, significantly affected my overall experience.

The Watch 3 Pro feels less like a budget smartwatch trying to do everything and more like one that understands its priorities. It focuses on the features people actually use every day and executes most of them well.

If you are looking for a smartwatch that balances fitness tracking, health monitoring, Bluetooth calling and excellent battery life without becoming a chore to live with, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is easy to recommend.

More importantly, it is a watch I would happily continue wearing even after the review period ended.

Price: Rs 7,999

Colour tested: Light Green

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WWDC 2026: Siri to iOS 27, what to expect from Apple's biggest AI reset yet

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

Apple is set to kick off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) today, June 8, with a keynote address that could define the company’s position in the next phase of artificial intelligence. The event is also expected to be one of Tim Cook’s final major appearances as Apple’s CEO, adding to the significance of this year’s announcements.

This year’s WWDC is shaping up to be one of the most consequential events in Apple’s recent history, as the Cupertino-based technology giant looks to reset its AI strategy with a revamped version of its digital assistant, Siri.

While Siri is expected to take centre stage, Apple is also likely to preview a broader set of AI-powered features across its platforms, including iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. These updates will not only shape how users interact with their devices, but also signal how Apple plans to compete in an AI landscape currently led by Google, Samsung, and Microsoft.

So far, Apple has taken a more cautious, privacy-first approach to AI, limiting the scope of features available on its devices. This has resulted in a relatively smaller portfolio of AI tools compared to rivals such as Google Pixel devices, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, and systems built around Microsoft’s Copilot+ platform.

Apple’s AI fiasco

At WWDC 2024, the company introduced its first wave of AI features under the “Apple Intelligence” banner, promising a more capable Siri alongside system-wide intelligence across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. However, these features did not ship with the iPhone 16 series at launch, leading to criticism around execution and delivery timelines.

Apple began rolling out Apple Intelligence features only in December 2024, with availability varying significantly across regions. In India, for instance, the features were not available until March 2025.

The situation was compounded by delays to the revamped version of Siri, which remains unshipped.

The version of Siri showcased at WWDC 2024 was designed to offer deeper contextual understanding, cross-app functionality, and on-screen awareness. However, Apple has yet to deliver on that promise.

The company also faced legal pressure, agreeing to pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit in the US that alleged it misled consumers by promoting features that were not available at launch.

Apple CEO Tim Cook later acknowledged the delay, stating during an earnings call that while “progress” was being made, the features required more time to meet Apple’s standards.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, echoed this in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, noting that the new Siri experience “did not converge in the way, quality-wise, that we needed it to,” adding that the company prioritised reliability over speed of release.

Can Apple reset with a new Siri?

In January 2026, Apple announced a partnership with Google, under which Apple will be using Google’s Gemini AI models as the underlying technology for its foundation models, which will power next-generation Siri. In a joint statement by both the companies, it was announced that the personalised version of Siri and Apple Intelligence features, some of which were showcased at WWDC 2024, are set to be launched later this year.

According to Bloomberg, the new Siri architecture is built around three layers: a query planning system, a knowledge retrieval engine, and a summarisation layer. Gemini is expected to handle the planning and summarisation tasks, enabling Siri to structure responses more effectively and generate clearer outputs.

This could enable the three core capabilities Apple showcased in 2024, including on-screen awareness, cross-app task execution, and personal context understanding. However, Apple’s next version of Siri is not expected to be limited to these functionalities.

Internally, the project is reportedly codenamed “Campo” and is designed to transform Siri from a voice assistant into a more capable AI system that can execute tasks across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

The assistant is also expected to introduce a new “Search or Ask” interface and move closer to a chatbot-like experience, putting it in more direct competition with platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

Apple is also said to be testing integration with multiple third-party AI systems, allowing users to route queries to services like Claude or Gemini when needed, in addition to its existing ChatGPT integration.

Beyond Siri, the company is expected to expand AI capabilities across its ecosystem, including improvements to Visual Intelligence, Image Playground, and Writing Tools, with greater flexibility through third-party integrations.

Taken together, these updates could allow Apple to close the gap with competitors in consumer-facing AI features.

What could be Apple’s approach to the next wave of AI?

When Apple previewed Apple Intelligence in 2024, it also introduced Private Cloud Compute, a cloud-based extension of on-device processing. As per Apple, the system is designed to handle tasks that exceed the processing limits of a device while applying the same privacy protections Apple claims to use for local data. However, the company’s partnership with Google suggests that this approach may be evolving.

As per Bloomberg’s report, in addition to using Google’s underlying technology, the company is hosting much of the new Siri on Google servers.

This contradicts Apple’s own statement from earlier this year when 9To5Google reported that while responding to a question on the Apple-Google partnership, during an earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said Gemini-powered Siri will continue to run either on-device or through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute system.

A report from The Information suggests that the scale of modern AI models may be driving this shift. Large models such as Gemini require significantly more computing power than Apple’s current infrastructure can efficiently support.

As a result, Apple is expected to rely on Google Cloud and Nvidia AI hardware for certain workloads, particularly those involving more advanced versions of Siri.

This raises questions about how Apple will maintain its privacy-first positioning.

However, the company is reportedly exploring the use of Nvidia’s confidential computing technology, which encrypts data while it is being processed on GPUs. While this may introduce some performance overhead, it could allow Apple to maintain its privacy commitments while scaling AI capabilities.

Developers and analysts remain cautious

Despite Apple’s push to reset its AI strategy, expectations from developers and analysts remain measured.

According to a Reuters report, analysts point out that Apple still holds a significant advantage in the form of user data spread across its ecosystem, including emails, messages, calendar events and app activity. This data, if effectively utilised, could make Siri more context-aware and capable of handling tasks more intelligently.

However, unlocking that potential is not straightforward. Apple’s privacy-first architecture restricts how data is accessed across apps, which limits how much context AI systems can currently use.

From a developer perspective, one of the key expectations is deeper integration of apps with Siri. Analysts expect Apple to allow developers to plug their apps into Siri using extensions,

Some also expect Apple to give developers more flexibility.

In a statement to Reuters, Andrew Cornwall, a senior analyst with tech research firm Forrester said that he expect Apple to let developers plug their apps into Siri using what Apple calls “extensions” and let those developers choose among AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google’s Gemini in their apps.

At the same time, Apple is unlikely to aggressively push more experimental concepts such as fully autonomous AI agents. According to analysts, the company is expected to prioritise controlled, user-facing features over emerging technologies that may still raise security and reliability concerns.

“It’s way too early for the consumer,” said Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, referring to more advanced agent-based systems.

Instead, Apple is expected to frame AI as a set of useful features rather than a standalone technology, focusing on improving everyday interactions rather than introducing entirely new computing paradigms.

What Apple users can expect from WWDC 2026

Revamped Siri

The biggest announcement is expected to be an overhauled version of Siri. Apple is aiming to transform Siri from a voice-based assistant into a more capable AI system that can execute tasks across apps and devices.

The new Siri is expected to support more advanced use cases, such as drafting emails based on prompts, summarising information from emails, notes, and the web, and managing schedules with greater context awareness. It is also expected to handle more complex, multi-step requests.

This will likely leverage Google Gemini’s agentic capabilities. Google announced similar functionality for Android 17 at its I/O conference last month under “Gemini Intelligence”, a system-wide AI layer designed to understand on-screen context, work across apps, and complete tasks on behalf of users.

Gemini Intelligence supports multi-step app automation, contextual browsing in Chrome, AI-assisted Autofill, smarter voice typing, and personalised widgets generated through natural language prompts. It is also designed to carry context across connected devices such as phones, watches, cars, glasses, and laptops.

Siri app

One of the more notable additions this year is expected to be a dedicated Siri app across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

According to Bloomberg, the app will support continuous conversations, allowing users to revisit and continue past interactions with the assistant, rather than treating each query as a one-off request.

Users will reportedly be able to access the Siri app by pulling down on a response generated by the assistant, effectively turning individual interactions into persistent threads.

The app is expected to include a main page of past chats, available in both light and dark modes, with conversations displayed either as a list or in a grid format. Each conversation will include a short summary, making it easier for users to navigate and pick up where they left off.

Siri’s ‘Search or Ask’ interface

According to Bloomberg, Apple is also expected to introduce a new “Search or Ask” interface, allowing users to interact with Siri through both voice and text.

As per the report, users will be able to launch apps, start messages, check the weather, add calendar appointments, search through notes, trigger shortcuts within apps, or search the web using AI from a single interface.

The panel is also expected to incorporate the existing Siri Suggestions interface, surfacing frequently used apps and actions.

Apple is also reportedly planning to open up Siri to third-party chatbots beyond OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which is already integrated. According to Bloomberg, users may be able to toggle between services such as Claude and Gemini alongside ChatGPT within the same interface.

AI features beyond Siri

Beyond the assistant, Apple is expected to expand AI capabilities across its ecosystem.

According to Bloomberg, Visual Intelligence will be more deeply integrated into the Camera app, allowing users to recognise objects, extract information, and take actions more seamlessly.

Apple is also expected to improve its image generation and editing tools, including features such as extending images beyond their original frame, reframing perspectives, and enhancing image quality using AI.

Other expected additions include:

AI-powered organisation of Safari tabs

Smarter Genmoji suggestions based on user context

Improvements to Writing Tools and system-wide grammar correction

Natural language-based automation through Shortcuts

These updates point to a broader push to embed AI into everyday workflows rather than limiting it to a single interface.

Apple Health

Apple is also expected to expand AI capabilities within its Health platform.

According to Bloomberg, the company is working on new AI-driven health features, including improved blood sugar tracking and the use of device cameras to monitor workouts.

These updates are part of a broader internal effort to build a more advanced health coaching system, although some features may not be available in the initial release and could roll out later.

Platform updates

WWDC 2026 will also bring updates across Apple’s operating systems, including iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27.

According to Bloomberg, these updates will focus less on major design changes and more on improving performance, battery life, and system reliability. The approach is expected to be similar to earlier updates such as iOS 12 and macOS Snow Leopard, which prioritised refinement over new features.

Apple is also said to be making under-the-hood changes to support future hardware, including a foldable iPhone, while expanding features for business users and customers in emerging markets such as India.

Additional updates are expected across apps such as Wallet, Safari, Weather, and Messages, along with broader interface tweaks and system-level enhancements.

What developers can expect from WWDC 2026

A key part of Apple’s strategy this year is expected to focus on developers.

According to Bloomberg, Apple will introduce a new framework called CoreAI, aimed at making it easier for developers to integrate AI capabilities into their applications.

Developers are also expected to gain deeper access to Siri through extensions, allowing apps to plug directly into the assistant and participate in AI-driven workflows.

In addition, Apple may allow developers to choose between different AI models, including those from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, marking a shift toward a more flexible AI ecosystem.

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Motorola Razr Fold review: A foldable that gets the fundamentals right

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

In 2020, a new category of smartphones emerged into the mainstream: the foldable. The first wave was largely shaped by Samsung and Huawei, both of which approached the concept through book-style designs that transformed from a smartphone into a tablet-sized device.

Amid the excitement surrounding the Samsung Fold and Huawei Mate X, another player quietly entered the foldable conversation. Motorola, owned by Lenovo, took a different route by reviving the Razr brand as a flip-style foldable inspired by its iconic clamshell phones.

Over the following years, Motorola steadily refined the Razr line while competitors focused on book-style foldables. It is only now, six years later, that Motorola has expanded the Razr family with its first book-style foldable, the Razr Fold.

Being late to the category is often viewed as a disadvantage. In the case of foldables, however, it may have worked in Motorola’s favour. The company has had years to observe the limitations of the category: battery life, camera compromises, software optimisation, durability concerns, and the ever-present display crease.

The question is whether the Razr Fold merely joins the competition or genuinely improves upon it.

A design that refuses to blend in

Design remains one of the defining aspects of any foldable, and Motorola has clearly attempted to create a distinct identity for the Razr Fold.

The cover display is wrapped in curved glass on all four sides, giving the device a softer appearance compared to the flatter designs adopted by rivals. The rear panel features a diamond piqué textured finish inspired by luxury fabrics and is offered in a Pantone-curated Blackened Blue colourway.

Motorola has also addressed durability. The device carries ingress protection certifications covering both dust and water resistance, an area where foldables have historically struggled.

These details help the Razr Fold stand apart in a segment where many devices increasingly resemble one another.

That said, the design is not without drawbacks.

The Razr Fold is neither the thinnest nor the lightest book-style foldable available today. More noticeably, the large rear camera module significantly affects usability. The phone not only wobbles when placed on a table but tilts noticeably to one side, making interaction on flat surfaces less comfortable than it should be.

The crease is still there, but it rarely matters

The display crease remains one of the most discussed aspects of foldable smartphones.

Motorola has not eliminated it entirely. The crease remains visible under certain lighting conditions and can still be felt when running a finger across the display.

However, unlike earlier foldables where the crease constantly reminded users of the underlying compromise, the Razr Fold reduces its prominence to the point where it largely disappears during everyday use.

It is not a crease-free display in the way OPPO’s Find N6 attempts to be, but it is refined enough that it stops being a distraction after a short period of use.

For many users, that may be sufficient.

A foldable experience that finally feels purposeful

The display hardware itself meets expectations for a flagship foldable. The cover screen is tall and practical, while the inner display adopts the familiar squarish format seen on devices from Samsung and Google. Both panels are bright, smooth, and sufficiently sharp to justify the premium positioning.

Where Motorola deserves particular credit, however, is software optimisation.

Too often, foldables offer larger screens without providing compelling reasons to use them. The Razr Fold avoids this trap.

The interface has been designed around multitasking. Multiple applications can run side-by-side on the main display, while additional apps can be opened in floating windows that are resizable and easy to reposition.

Rather than treating multitasking as a feature buried within settings, Motorola has integrated it into the core experience. The larger display feels useful rather than merely larger.

Cameras that prioritise reliability over experimentation

Camera performance has traditionally been one of the compromises associated with foldable smartphones. Manufacturers often focus on hinges and displays, leaving imaging systems a step behind their flagship bar-shaped devices.

Motorola has attempted to narrow that gap.

The Razr Fold features a total of five cameras: a triple-camera setup on the rear, one camera integrated into the cover display, and another embedded within the inner folding screen.

The overall photography experience represents a notable improvement over Motorola’s previous efforts. Point-and-shoot photography is where the system performs best, delivering reliable and consistent results across varied lighting conditions.

Images exhibit good detail, balanced colours, and predictable exposure, making the camera system dependable for everyday use.

Video recording is less convincing.

The most noticeable issue is sensor shifting during recording, which can appear abrupt and disrupt otherwise smooth footage. While image quality itself remains respectable, the video experience falls short of what buyers may expect from a premium foldable device.

The battery life other foldables should aspire to

Performance is strong throughout the system, but the standout feature is battery life. Foldable smartphones have historically forced users into compromises. The larger display encourages increased usage, yet battery limitations often lead users to rely more heavily on the cover screen.

The Razr Fold changes that equation.

Its 6,000mAh battery is among the largest in the category and is paired with fast charging support. The result is a foldable that can comfortably last through a full day of mixed usage without requiring users to constantly monitor battery levels.

More importantly, the endurance encourages use of the larger display rather than discouraging it. That alone makes the foldable experience feel more complete.

Verdict

The Motorola Razr Fold may be a newcomer to the book-style foldable segment, but it arrives as a mature product rather than an experimental one. It does not have the thinnest profile. It does not eliminate the display crease entirely. Nor does it offer the best video recording experience in its class.

What it does deliver is a balanced foldable experience that addresses several of the category’s long-standing weaknesses. The displays are excellent, multitasking feels purposeful, battery life is among the best in the segment, and the camera system performs reliably for photography.

Most importantly, the Razr Fold feels like a device designed around everyday usability rather than engineering demonstrations.

Motorola may have entered the book-style foldable market later than its rivals, but the Razr Fold shows that arriving late is not necessarily a disadvantage when the lessons of the past six years are applied correctly.

Price: Starts at Rs 149,999

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WWDC 2026: After two years of stumbles, is Apple's AI moment here?

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

When Apple holds its developer conference at its Cupertino, California headquarters on Monday, the big draw will be a widely expected overhaul to Siri, the AI assistant the iPhone maker two years ago promised, but failed, to improve.

Siri debuted in 2011 and is accessible through the bulk of Apple’s installed base of 2.5 billion devices, but hundreds of millions of consumers have been chatting with apps from OpenAI and Anthropic instead. In China and elsewhere, consumers are turning to AI agents – bots that can carry out complex tasks on behalf of human users – to manage daily schedules and take care of rote tasks.

But analysts say Apple is still sitting on an AI gold mine in the form of the personal data that lives on every iPhone — emails, messages, calendar appointments and other information scattered across the operating system and apps. That data could make Siri’s answers more useful and make the assistant more helpful and competent at carrying out tasks.

Apple’s challenge is that such data is locked down in its operating systems in the name of privacy and security.

Third-party apps purposely cannot read data from one another, and even Apple cannot access much of it without a user’s permission.

Its task will be unlocking the power of that data, both for itself and for developers.

“They have to make Siri not suck, but Apple also has to put the framework together of how their developers can take advantage of AI themselves,” said Patrick Moorhead, founder of tech consulting firm Moor Insights & Strategy. “It sounds kind of boring, but AI is all about data, because data is what creates context and what creates better results.” To be sure, Apple has hardly been punished by Wall Street for its approach to AI. Its shares are up about 50% over the past year, less than the roughly 120% gain of Google parent Alphabet, which has benefited from the success of its Gemini model, but also better than Microsoft’s 7% decline in that time.

That firm has suffered from being perceived as falling behind the capabilities of rivals such as Anthropic, in part due to Microsoft’s close ties to OpenAI.

DEVELOPERS AWAIT SIRI TWEAKS

The most visible moves for Monday will likely be the introduction of a “chat” mode with Siri and a “personal context” option to share that data with the assistant, said Andrew Cornwall, a senior analyst with tech research firm Forrester.

Cornwall expects Apple to let developers plug their apps into Siri using what Apple calls “extensions” and let those developers choose among AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google’s Gemini in their apps. Apple also might introduce a new method of tapping into the AI processing capabilities of its custom chips, Cornwall said.

The point on which analysts tend to agree is that Apple is likely to frame AI not as a technology but rather as experiences or features that its customers will find helpful. Polls have found the U.S. public uneasy about AI, and while Apple customers in other major markets such as China view AI more positively, Apple has historically never embraced technology for technology’s sake.

While Nvidia and Microsoft this year have spent time trying to tame OpenClaw, a technology that can direct an army of AI agents on a personal computer to log into a user’s online services and carry out tasks for business users, Ben Bajarin, CEO of tech consultancy Creative Strategies, does not expect Apple to follow suit just yet.

Bajarin said he does not expect Apple to put much emphasis on emerging technologies like OpenClaw, which still have potential security issues.

“It’s way too early for the consumer,” Bajarin said.

“Honestly, I’m not even sure businesses are ready for this in an uncontrolled context.”

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AI reshaping diplomacy: Can technology replace human understanding?

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

By Karishma Vaswani

From John F Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev navigating the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 to Henry Kissinger and Zhou Enlai’s meetings that laid the groundwork for China’s opening up in 1971, modern history is full of examples of human judgment shaping great diplomatic moments.

But what if artificial intelligence could help us face some of today’s most pressing crises better?

Singapore is offering an early glimpse of what that future might look like. Last month, the city-state’s foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, revealed that he had built a diplomatic second brain using an open-source technology called NanoClaw. The tool curates transcripts, speeches, and other material — particularly his own contributions — into a searchable database. It has become so useful, the minister joked, that he does not dare switch it off.

The idea is quintessentially Singaporean in its efficiency, with appropriate shades of dystopia. Still, no serious diplomat — including Balakrishnan — would bet on an AI system negotiating the end to the war in Ukraine or resolving decades of hostility between the US and Iran. The minister’s central message is that while technology can increasingly handle computation, memory, and routine tasks, it cannot replace understanding. Or, as he put it: “You can delegate work, but you cannot delegate accountability.”

But in a world where diplomacy often feels in short supply, artificial intelligence can help policymakers cope with complexity. Governments across the globe are already using AI to synthesise huge amounts of data, model different negotiating scenarios, and identify potential areas of compromise.

The US State Department is employing these tools to translate documents and summarise information. In Libya, the United Nations used a platform called Remesh to gather and analyse the views of thousands of citizens during the peace process in late 2020 that followed years of civil war. Because it worked on basic mobile phones and supported local dialects, it brought more voices into the conversation than traditional consultations might have managed.

The World Bank, meanwhile, is using AI to predict refugee flows from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo into Uganda. This potentially gives governments and aid agencies more time to prepare housing, schools, healthcare, and other essential services before people arrive.

For all of its promise, AI is also inherently vulnerable to risk, notes Asha Hemrajani, senior fellow at the Centre of Excellence for National Security at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “Garbage in, garbage out,” she told me. “It depends on the data you input into the AI model you are building. And these systems are vulnerable to hacking and manipulation, which could lead to strategic miscalculations. In a high-stakes environment like diplomacy, you have to get it right — you have to keep humans in the loop.”

Which is why, as impressive as Balakrishnan’s second brain sounds, it raises an uncomfortable question: Whose brain is it replacing? The jobs his tool could perform — drafting briefs, synthesising country reports, preparing speeches and parliamentary questions — has traditionally been the work of junior diplomats or policy staff.

Diplomacy is hardly unique in facing this dilemma, but the question is especially acute in Singapore, which is among the economies most exposed to AI. Bloomberg Economics estimates that roughly 40 per cent of employment could be affected by the technology — the highest share in the world. Sweden and the UK follow at around 30 per cent, while the US stands at 26 per cent.

Exposure does not necessarily mean replacement. The figures tell us little about how quickly the technology will be adopted, or whether jobs will be augmented rather than eliminated. Singaporeans are surprisingly optimistic. Only 17 per cent believe workers are unlikely to benefit from AI — compared with 46 per cent in Germany.

That may explain why the government has been able to press ahead with its AI ambitions. Singapore has signed an agreement with OpenAI and last week another one with Anthropic. It has also launched a joint AI alliance with South Korea — backed by a $300 million fund — and announced plans to deploy AI agents across the public sector.

But moving fast comes with its own risks. The challenge is not whether to use AI in diplomacy, but how. Junior diplomats need to develop the judgment that no algorithm can replicate. Time spent learning languages, understanding cultures and experience with more senior diplomats is essential.

Vital human qualities such as empathy and understanding are crucial to good diplomatic outcomes. The next great breakthrough will still require a person who can read a room and pick up on the signals that could make or break a peace deal. No AI-powered second brain can do that.

(Disclaimer: This is a Bloomberg Opinion piece, and these are the personal opinions of the writer. They do not reflect the views of www.business-standard.com or the Business Standard newspaper)

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Chatbot teddies for three-year-olds? Why AI toys are risky for kids

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 7, 2026 | Technology

ChattyBear, a soft, brown-furred teddy bear, begins every conversation with a jubilant, “Hello, my buddy!”

No longer the province of the imagination, ChattyBear is part of a new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) toys. It can tell stories, chat about a child’s interests, play games or even discuss what’s happening in the world today.

These high tech toys are powered by generative AI engines such as ChatGPT and are now widely available online. They are being marketed as a way to give children as young as three an educational advantage and a new type of play – without the perils of screen time.

After evaluating six different AI teddy bears and toys over several months, it’s clear how these toys could feel compelling for children. Yet as our new report highlights, there are new risks that come with AI toys turning up in young children’s lives.

Sounding human

For younger children especially, understanding that their teddy or toy isn’t “alive” or magic can be hard. This is especially true if “teddy” uses language that positions it as a trusted friend – for example, by insisting it is a “real buddy”.

This is a feature of many AI toys.

Sounding human builds an artificial sense of trust and intimacy, which can be especially problematic for children when combined with sycophantic language choices – or excessively agreeable, validating and even flattering language.

Research shows young children are particularly prone to developing a strong sense of emotional attachment to conversational AI agents.

Increased trust leads to increased use and engagement with the toys. Recent estimates suggest close to 80% of children aged 10 to 17 have used an AI companion or assistant, so it’s urgent children and young people be taught how to “reality check” their AI “buddies”.

Infinite chat

The marketing materials for many AI toys often highlight “endless conversations” as a feature of these devices.

But enabling endless conversations, or infinite chat, poses risks when it comes to children learning how to moderate their technology use. In the social media realm, the infinite scroll of TikTok or Instagram is seen as a potential challenge to teens limiting their use to healthy amounts.

Research has also found some AI toys discuss very adult topics – such as sexual fetishes and how to find knives and start fires.

Infinite chat also opens the door to infinite data collection.

The potentially intimate nature of conversations with AI toys might lead children to presume their conversations are private. But most AI terms of use reveal the opposite to be true.

Sharing personal details with a friendly bear might feel safe. But that chat could be training data for the next large language model.

Marketing material for ChattyBear says the toy offers “safe, filtered content for children”. The Conversation contacted the manufacturer for further detail about this but did not receive a response before deadline.

Children’s wellbeing

Childhood is a critical period when young people develop the social and emotional skills to form and maintain trusting relationships. These skills are usually learned through interactions with trusted friends and adults.

Children’s rights advocates have raised concerns that excessive engagement with AI agents may reduce opportunities for children to develop these skills.

And the risks may compound over time.

Initially, time spent with AI agents may displace time interacting with real humans. Fewer opportunities to build these skills could lead to a reduced capacity to maintain caring human relationships. Difficulties in maintaining human relationships may promote a preference of machine over human relationships as children expect “frictionless” interactions.

Eventually, these developments may lead to less satisfying human connections, increasing loneliness, which in turn promotes increased time spent with AI.

The novelty of AI toys means there is little evidence to confirm these possible detrimental impacts. Further research is needed – especially as the AI toy industry is set to grow even more.

Last year, for example, Mattel, one of the world’s biggest toy makers, announced a strategic collaboration with OpenAI to support AI-powered products.

Barriers to the online world are gone

The ability to read and write was once a requirement to use most online tools and services. This literacy barrier no longer exists today with many generative AI toys, tools and devices now widely accessible to younger children through voice interactions.

The audio turn opens up new technological play, experiences and opportunities for children. But it also means adults need to ensure AI toys can be safe for younger children, too.

Right now, playing with AI toys under the supervision of a parent or trusted adult may well be a fun way to explore the world of AI together. But especially for younger children, playing with AI toys without supervision opens the door to a wide range of new risks.

Importantly, the risk factors in AI toy design, such as the degree to which they pretend to be human, can be changed by manufacturers, offering opportunities to follow safety-by-design.

However, the business models behind many AI toys capitalise on the duration and intensity of users’ engagement, leaving little incentive for companies to change their products.

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