What’s really happening with Apple Intelligence? (CultCast #704)

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This week, Graham, Charlie and Leander are still here to ask, what the heck is going on with Apple Intelligence? Also: visionOS 26 features, the complicated situation of iPad repairability, the small demand for folding iPhones, and the great hidden features in iOS 26!

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This week’s stories:

Wait for AI-enhanced Siri stretches out almost a year

• The release date for the AI-enhanced version of the Siri voice assistant will likely come in spring 2026, a year later than expected.

Apple Intelligence in iOS 26

• Third-party apps can build custom AI features on top of Apple’s custom Foundation model. This will let developers use the powerful on-device capabilities for free, rather than spend money on an expensive third-party service.

visionOS 26 brings spatial widgets, better Personas and new accessories

• visionOS 26 will bring spatial widgets, better Personas, new accessories, Look to Scroll and so much more to the powerful headset.

iFixit: Apple Finally Admits That The iPad Is A Beast To Repair

• On May 29, the iPad joined the Self Service Repair Program. And the documentation they released confirms what we’ve always known: the iPad is a nightmare to repair.

Folding iPhone could stay a niche product for years

• Production of the long-awaited folding iPhone reportedly begins in a few months, but Apple will only make a few million of them.

Apple Core: iOS 7 - the battle for the future of software design

• iOS 7 represented more than just a fresh new look. It marked a major shift in Cupertino’s design philosophy, which arose from a bitter boardroom bust-up between two of Steve Jobs’ most trusted lieutenants.

Hidden iOS 26 features Apple didn’t talk about at WWDC25

• While Apple highlighted iOS 26’s major features during the WWDC25 keynote, many meaningful quality-of-life improvements flew under the radar. Here are some of the smaller, hidden features in iOS 26 that you shouldn’t miss.