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Apple's WWDC 2026 teaser points to possible Siri redesign: What we know

Apple's WWDC 2026 teaser points to possible Siri redesign: What we know

by | Jun 2, 2026 | Technology


Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026 is set to begin next week, and the company has started building anticipation with a new tagline: “All systems glow.” The annual event, which kicks off on June 8, is expected to bring the first look at iOS 27 and updates across Apple’s software ecosystem. While Apple has not revealed what the slogan means, it hints that it could be a reference to a redesigned Siri experience expected to arrive with the next version of iOS.

 


The conference will begin with Apple’s keynote presentation on June 8, where the company is expected to unveil iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27. Following the keynote, Apple will host developer sessions throughout the week, with the event running until June 12.

 
 


Apple WWDC26 keynote: Event details


  • Venue: Apple Park, Cupertino, California


  • Time: 10 AM PT (10:30 PM IST)


  • Livestream: Apple’s website, official YouTube channel, Apple TV app


What does “All systems glow” mean?

 


Apple’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Greg Joswiak, shared the new WWDC 2026 Apple logo on X and wrote: “All systems glow for a great #WWDC26 next week! Tune in June 8 at 10 am PT.”

 


Apple’s latest WWDC slogan appears to be a play on the phrase “all systems go.” According to a report from MacRumors, the wording may hint at a refreshed Siri interface expected in iOS 27. Apple is reportedly working on a new design for Siri, featuring glowing visual elements and a darker appearance. The same design language is also expected to appear in a new “Search or Ask” feature that could be integrated into the iPhone’s Dynamic Island.

 


The new teaser replaces Apple’s earlier WWDC 2026 tagline, “Coming bright up,” which was also widely interpreted as a reference to Siri and Apple’s AI efforts. Ahead of the event, Apple has also released official WWDC 2026 wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users.

 


The company has additionally published a dedicated Apple Music playlist to help users prepare for the conference. These have traditionally been released as part of Apple’s WWDC promotions in the days leading up to the keynote.


What to expect at WWDC 2026


Apple has announced that at WWDC 2026, it will showcase updates across its software platforms, including AI features and new developer tools. The event is expected to include previews of several upcoming capabilities.

 


New operating systems

 


At WWDC 2026, Apple is expected to preview iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and updates for its other platforms. The beta versions are likely to roll out shortly after the keynote, with the stable release expected later this year alongside the next iPhone lineup.

 


According to previous Bloomberg reports, iOS 27 may focus more on performance, stability, and system optimisation rather than a major redesign. Apple is also expected to refine the Liquid Glass interface with improved readability controls. These UI changes may expand to the next macOS and iPadOS versions.

 


The update could additionally prepare the groundwork for Apple’s rumoured foldable iPhone, while watchOS may introduce new health-related features currently under regulatory review.

 


New Apple Wallet feature

 


According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing a new feature for Apple Wallet and Cash that could make splitting bills easier. The feature would reportedly allow users to take a photo of a restaurant bill or receipt and automatically assign items to different people. Users could then calculate how much each person owes without manually entering the details. If announced, the tool would likely expand Apple’s efforts to add more practical everyday features to the iPhone.

 


Siri could become far more conversational

 


One of the biggest expected upgrades revolves around Siri. Apple is working on a more personalised version of the voice assistant capable of understanding user context, recognising on-screen content, and performing actions across apps.

 


For example, Siri may be able to understand commands based on what is visible on the display, continue conversations more naturally, and execute multi-step tasks without repeated prompts.

 


According to a previous report, Apple may also be preparing a dedicated Siri app that could support text-based conversations and conversation history, bringing Siri closer to AI chatbots like ChatGPT. The dedicated Siri app may include automatic chat deletion options. As per Bloomberg, users will be able to choose how long Siri conversations are stored, ranging from 30 days to indefinitely, as part of Apple’s privacy-focused AI plans. The dedicated Siri app is expected to roll out gradually, possibly beginning with early iOS 27 builds.

 


These new Siri experiences will likely come to fruition due to Apple’s deal with Google, which allows the company to use custom versions of Google’s Gemini AI model to power an AI-powered version of Siri and other Apple Intelligence features.

 


According to a previous report referenced by 9To5Mac, Apple may host Gemini-distilled models on its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure to maintain its privacy-focused approach.


  New Apple Intelligence features

 


Beyond Siri, Apple Intelligence is expected to expand into several core apps and services across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.


  • Some of the reported features include:


  • Creating Wallet passes from physical tickets


  • AI-assisted editing tools inside the Photos app


  • Improved Visual Intelligence capabilities


  • AI-generated shortcuts in the Shortcuts app


  • Automatic tab group naming in Safari


According to a previous report, Apple is also expected to introduce an AI-powered health assistant that could analyse users’ fitness and wellness data to offer insights and recommendations.

 


The company is also said to be working on an AI-based “answer engine” for services such as Safari, Spotlight Search, and Siri, allowing users to receive more conversational responses instead of traditional search-style results.

 


MacRumors also reported that Visual Intelligence may gain the ability to scan nutrition labels, read business cards, and directly save information into the Contacts app.

 


According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple is also preparing features such as a Grammarly-like grammar checker, AI-generated wallpapers, and upgraded writing tools. The Shortcuts app may also gain AI-powered functionality that lets users create automations using natural language prompts.

 

Apple is also reportedly developing a new “Suggested Genmoji” feature that could recommend AI-generated emojis based on commonly typed phrases and photos stored on users’ devices. 

 


Others

 


While the focus is expected to be on new platform updates, Apple Intelligence, and Siri, Apple could release updated developer tools through Xcode, including new AI-powered features.

 


The company could also preview upcoming hardware at the event. While Apple typically does not reveal new devices at WWDC, it has used the platform in the past to offer a glimpse of upcoming products such as the first-generation Vision Pro headset at WWDC23. Similarly, Apple could offer an early look at its smart glasses project this year, which is reportedly being developed as part of the company’s push into AI-powered wearables.

 



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Demand for forward deployed engineers surges as companies adopt AI

Demand for forward deployed engineers surges as companies adopt AI

by | Jun 2, 2026 | Technology



Forward deployed engineers (FDEs), dubbed the hottest job in tech today, are seeing surging demand in India as enterprises race to embed artificial intelligence (AI) more seamlessly into client workflows.

 


A term made popular by US data analytics company Palantir, FDEs are software engineers embedded directly within the customer ecosystem to configure the technology company’s software to solve problems for the client.

 


They are not traditional enterprise architects but work in the client environment to facilitate AI platform adoption and bring huge domain expertise to command what can be built across the client’s technology stack.

 


They also connect business objectives to technical implementation and design solutions using proven assets and patterns.

 
 


Data from TeamLease Digital shows demand is growing at high double-digit rates, and in the first three quarters of 2025 alone, FDE job demand jumped by nearly 800 per cent.

 


This is albeit from a small base but a clear indicator of how critical this role has become.

 


Globally, there are about 500-800 active roles at any given time with India having 250-270 open positions, making it an emerging hub.

 


As enterprises continue to witness slow adoption of AI due to a host of factors, many software and frontier model firms are looking to hire more such niche skilled engineers who would scale up adoption, ensure quicker turnaround, and better revenue.

 


Mid-tier IT services firm Coforge, which has 20 such engineers now, wants to increase the number to 100 by the end of this financial year, its chief executive officer (CEO) and executive director (ED) Sudhir Singh said earlier this month.  

 


He added, “They are the cherry on the cake. That’s the plan, going forward. And, a forward deployed engineer, given just the expectation from them, that’s a skill set that is going to be gold. If we get to that number, we’ll be very satisfied.”

 


US software company EPAM Systems has about 50 such engineers in India and is also looking to scale that number to 100 during the same time period. 

 


“The reason FDEs are prevailing today is they can have a good collaboration with business and they understand what business is talking. That reduces ideations. At the same time, the cost of tokens in an enterprise is increasing exponentially. With the help of FDEs, it will be lesser iterations, lesser costs, and more of the value which industry is expecting,” said Srinivasa Kattuboina, vice-president of data and analytics practice at EPAM India.

 


When asked about the skills required, Kattuboina said the engineer “needs to have expertise in AI. You should have a good deal of data background or exposure to data, and then you should know the domain side.”

 


Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital, says the two critical skills needed from such engineers are domain expertise and AI skills with experienced people making about ~40 lakh per annum. “FDEs earn 23.7 per cent above customer support engineers and 16 per cent above technical account managers,” she added.

 


Most of the hiring for this role is still being done by the frontier model firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic, followed by enterprise software firms which include Palantir, Salesforce, Snowflake, ServiceNow, and Oracle, besides professional services companies like PwC.

 


Google Cloud is also investing in hiring more FDEs to scale enterprise AI adoption. “While having FDEs is not new for Google Cloud, the demand from customers and partners for Google enterprise AI products and Google engineers to help them embrace agent development is growing very rapidly,” CEO Thomas Kurian wrote in LinkedIn. 

 



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India's tablet market grows despite rising prices and smartphone slowdown

India's tablet market grows despite rising prices and smartphone slowdown

by | Jun 2, 2026 | Technology



India’s tablet market grew 5 per cent year-on-year in Q1 CY2026, even as smartphone shipments declined 3 per cent in the same quarter, marking the weakest quarter for smartphones in six years. According to Counterpoint Research, tablet growth came despite the same cost pressures affecting smartphones, including rising memory prices and broader supply-side constraints.

 


The divergence suggests that while overall consumer electronics demand remains under pressure, the way consumers are allocating spending across device categories is beginning to shift.


Growth holds despite rising prices


The report noted that tablet average selling prices (ASPs) increased 20 per cent year-on-year, driven by premiumisation as well as higher component costs linked to memory inflation.

 
 

This mirrors trends in the smartphone market, where rising DRAM and NAND costs have led to higher launch prices and post-launch price increases across brands.

 


For instance, the OnePlus Pad Go 2, launched at Rs 26,999, is now priced at Rs 28,999, reflecting the broader trend of upward price revisions even after launch.


Despite this, tablet shipments have continued to grow, indicating that demand is not being suppressed to the same extent as in smartphones.

 


Commenting on the trend, Anshika Jain, principal analyst at Counterpoint Research, said: “In Q1 2026, the market experienced a double-digit increase in ASP. Though the memory cost inflation also affected the prices, its impact was relatively limited in the quarter. The rising memory price impact is expected to become more evident from Q2 as brands increase prices to manage margin and cost pressure.”


Larger tablets are driving the market


The growth is not uniform across segments.

 


According to the report, devices above 13-inch displays recorded the highest growth at 338 per cent year-on-year, followed by the 12–12.9-inch segment at 76 per cent and the 11–11.9-inch segment at 29 per cent.

 


In contrast, smaller tablets are seeing a decline. The 10–10.9-inch segment fell 76 per cent, while devices below 9.9-inch declined 52 per cent year-on-year.


This indicates a clear shift in demand towards larger-screen devices.

 


According to the report, Lenovo’s Idea Tab series and Samsung’s Ultra series have helped strengthen the trend, with both seeing steady traction over recent quarters. Q1 CY2026 also saw new launches from Apple and Xiaomi, each introducing at least one device with a display larger than 12-inch.

 


The report noted that tablets are increasingly being positioned as a value-efficient alternative to both smartphones and laptops, with larger displays supporting use cases such as content consumption, online learning and productivity.

 


Jain said: “The market is seeing an increased preference for larger screen sizes, as consumers are using tablets as both a media consumption device and a productivity tool. This is strengthening the premiumisation trend as consumers demand higher configurations and better displays.”


Domestic manufacturing expands, but cost control remains limited


On the supply side, Counterpoint highlighted a sharp increase in domestic manufacturing, which grew more than 61 per cent year-on-year.

 


The report said this was driven by brands shifting portfolios towards local production, alongside export growth, which crossed 200,000 units during the quarter.

 


Lenovo has increasingly moved towards locally manufactured products, while Xiaomi and OnePlus have benefited from local production. Other brands, including Realme and OPPO, have also expanded domestic manufacturing capabilities in recent quarters, strengthening the broader ecosystem.

 


This trend is also visible in smartphones, where brands have been expanding local manufacturing. However, as seen in both categories, localisation has not translated into immediate pricing relief.

 


As Sumit Singh, senior vice-president and head of product at Lava International, explained in an earlier interaction, while assembly and some components can be produced locally, key materials continue to be imported.


“India is still behind the China ecosystem. Engineering Bill of Materials components are sourced from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other regions,” Singh said.

 


He added that while localisation is improving, it is unlikely to offset memory-driven cost pressures in the short term.


What this means


The tablet market’s growth is occurring alongside rising prices, increasing localisation and a shift towards larger, higher-configuration devices.

 


At the same time, smartphones are facing declining shipments under similar cost pressures, particularly due to memory inflation affecting pricing across segments.

 


The contrast between the two categories reflects differences in how demand is being distributed across devices rather than a broad-based recovery in consumer spending.



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Microsoft Build 2026: Microsoft may debut first reasoning-focused AI model and more at Build 2026

Microsoft Build 2026: Microsoft may debut first reasoning-focused AI model and more at Build 2026

by | Jun 2, 2026 | Technology



Microsoft’s annual developer conference, Build 2026, is set to kick off on June 2. The company is expected to make a series of announcements around artificial intelligence, its operating system, and developer tools at the event. According to a report by The Verge, the company is preparing to showcase new AI models, a developer-focused Windows 11 experience, improvements to Windows performance, and future plans for Copilot.

 

The conference comes at a time when Microsoft is increasingly reshaping its business around AI while also seeking to address concerns among developers regarding Windows and GitHub.


Microsoft Build 2026: Details


  • Date: June 2


  • Time: 9:30 AM PT


  • Where to watch: Microsoft Build 2026’s keynote address will be livestreamed on Microsoft’s YouTube channel


Alternatively, readers may also watch the event through the livestream embedded at the end of this article.

 


Microsoft Build 2026: What to expect


Microsoft may unveil new AI models


Artificial intelligence is expected to remain the centrepiece of the conference. According to The Verge, Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman is expected to introduce a new reasoning model called MAI-Thinking-1.

 


The report claims the model will be Microsoft’s first reasoning-focused AI system and has reportedly been developed without using model distillation, a technique where one AI model learns from the foundations of another model. The Verge expects the model to be targeted primarily at enterprise customers. In addition, Microsoft is also expected to announce new image-generation models, including MAI-Image-2.5 and MAI-Image-2.5-Flash.


Copilot super app reportedly in development


The Verge also reported that Microsoft is working on a new Copilot super app that would bring multiple Copilot AI assistants into a single interface. The report claims that development is still ongoing. Earlier last month, an image of this alleged super app surfaced online, which also gave a glimpse of Microsoft Scout, an AI agent that is believed to be connected to Microsoft’s OpenClaw project. However, the report added that the image was only a mock-up created for internal demonstrations.

 


The application is not expected to be available during Build, with preview access potentially arriving later this year.


New Windows experience for developers


According to The Verge, Microsoft is expected to introduce a new Windows 11 developer-optimised experience designed to simplify software development workflows. The new environment is expected to include pre-installed developer tools, applications, and scripts, while reducing distractions within the operating system. The feature is reportedly aimed at addressing long-standing requests from developers for a more streamlined Windows setup.

 


Microsoft is also expected to provide updates on its broader efforts to improve Windows 11 performance and user experience. The Verge said the company may reveal some customisation features during Build.


Focus on local AI models and RTX Spark


Local AI processing on Windows devices is expected to be another key focus during the conference. Microsoft has prepared new capabilities that will allow developers to run AI models locally on Windows PCs instead of relying entirely on cloud-based services. This could help reduce operational costs and improve performance for certain AI workloads. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella may discuss this in detail alongside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

 


On May 31, Nvidia announced the RTX Spark “superchip” built for running heavy AI workloads on-device. Following this, Microsoft revealed that it has optimised Windows specifically for Nvidia’s RTX Spark, which will run Windows on Arm. These optimisations include improved workload scheduling across the CPU architecture, better power and thermal management, and enhancements to unified memory handling. The amount of system memory available to the GPU has increased, along with improved memory management for AI, gaming, and content-creation workloads. The company noted that this has effectively unlocked the ability to load larger local AI models or render more complex projects.

 


For software compatibility, Microsoft confirmed that its Prism emulator will allow traditional 32-bit and 64-bit x86 applications to run on RTX Spark-powered devices and has been further tuned for the new hardware. The company also highlighted support for Windows ML and native TensorRT integration, while noting a range of Windows on Arm applications. Microsoft added that Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro run natively on Arm and are receiving further optimisations in collaboration with Adobe and Nvidia.


Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra


On May 31, Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Ultra. The company said the device has been developed in collaboration with Nvidia and is optimised for RTX Spark. According to Microsoft, the laptop combines an Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU, full CUDA support, and up to 128GB of unified memory, enabling AI, 3D rendering, software development, and other compute-intensive workloads to run locally on the device.

 


Microsoft said the Surface Laptop Ultra is capable of delivering up to 1 petaflop of AI performance and can run AI models with up to 120 billion parameters locally. The company added that its unified memory architecture allows memory resources to be dynamically shared between the CPU and GPU depending on workload requirements. Microsoft also highlighted an energy-efficient CPU design and claimed the device offers all-day battery life.

 


On the hardware front, Microsoft said the Surface Laptop Ultra features a 15-inch PixelSense Ultra mini-LED touchscreen with up to 2,000 nits of peak HDR brightness and a pixel density of 262 PPI. The laptop also includes what Microsoft describes as the largest haptic touchpad ever fitted to a Surface device, along with HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, SD card, and headphone ports. The device will be available in Platinum and Nightfall colour options.

 


The company has not yet detailed variants, pricing, or availability of the device. It is likely that the company will announce these at the event.


GitHub may be a key topic


Beyond Windows and AI, The Verge believes Microsoft may also address the future of GitHub. The publication noted that GitHub has faced challenges in recent months, including employee departures, service outages, and security-related incidents. According to the report, Build presents an opportunity for Microsoft to reassure developers and outline plans for improving the platform.

 


The Verge said Microsoft faces increasing pressure to rebuild trust among developers who rely on GitHub for software development and collaboration.



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Apple's iOS 26.5.1 fixes low-battery charging issue on iPhone 17 series

Apple's iOS 26.5.1 fixes low-battery charging issue on iPhone 17 series

by | Jun 2, 2026 | Technology



Apple has released iOS 26.5.1, a minor software update to fix a charging issue affecting select iPhone users. The update is available for devices in the iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air. According to Apple, iOS 26.5.1 addresses a bug that could prevent wired charging from working properly when the battery on certain devices is nearly depleted.

 

The latest update does not introduce any new features and focuses solely on fixing the charging issue. The release arrives just days ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026, which begins on June 8, where the company is expected to unveil iOS 27 and other software updates.

 
 


Meanwhile, Apple is already testing iOS 26.6 in beta. The upcoming release is expected to bring minor improvements and bug fixes, and could be among the final updates in the iOS 26 cycle before Apple’s focus shifts fully to iOS 27. The update will also likely carry the fix to the charging issue, which Apple has patched in the latest release.

 


What issue does iOS 26.5.1 fix?

 

In its official release notes, Apple said the update fixes an issue that may prevent wired charging on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models when the battery is almost drained.

 


According to a report by MacRumors, the bug affected a small number of users. In some cases, devices were unable to begin charging through a wired connection when the battery level was critically low.

 


While Apple has not shared further technical details, the company noted that the issue has now been resolved.

 

The update is currently available for devices in the iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. Apple recommends keeping devices updated, especially when updates include fixes for charging and other system-related issues. 

 


Apple’s release notes reportedly only mention the charging issue. However, the company does not always list every bug fix included in a software update. As a result, iOS 26.5.1 may also include additional stability improvements and minor fixes that have not been specifically detailed by Apple.

 


What came with iOS 26.5?

 

The new update follows the release of iOS 26.5 last month. That update introduced support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging, new Apple Maps features, and other improvements across the operating system. Smaller updates such as iOS 26.5.1 are commonly released after major software updates to address bugs discovered after a wider rollout. 

 


How to update to iOS 26.5.1


  • Go to Settings.


  • Tap on General and go to the “Software Update” section.


  • If the update is available, your iPhone will display the option to Download and Install. Tap on it to begin the process.


  • Once the download is complete, you will have the option to update immediately, install later, or select “Remind Me Later”.


  • Tap on Install to update immediately or choose another option according to your preference.


  • If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed.



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