Apple is making significant strides in AI with the upcoming release of iOS 18.2, which includes advanced AI features and ChatGPT integration. The company is also launching a new lineup of M4-powered Macs focused on AI capabilities. Meanwhile, other AI developments are happening, including Anthropic's model that can use a computer on its own and Humane's AI Pin, which has been made more affordable. However, concerns are rising regarding AI's potential misuse, with lawsuits against Perplexity for copyright infringement and warnings from creatives about the threat of AI to their work. The episode also discusses recent news like the Boox Palma 2, T-Mobile's change to its lifetime price guarantee, and the ongoing fight against the FTC's click-to-cancel rule.

🍎 **iOS 18.2 Brings Advanced AI Features and ChatGPT Integration:** Apple is releasing iOS 18.2 with a focus on AI, including features for summarizing messages, writing emails, and integrating ChatGPT. This update signifies a significant step towards integrating AI into Apple's ecosystem.

💻 **New M4-Powered Macs Focused on AI:** Apple is preparing a new lineup of Macs powered by its M4 chip, specifically designed for AI applications. These Macs are expected to be more powerful and efficient for AI tasks, further showcasing Apple's commitment to AI.

🤖 **Anthropic's AI Model Can Use Your Computer:** Anthropic has developed an AI model that can utilize your computer independently, performing tasks like browsing the web and writing emails. This raises both excitement and concerns about the future of AI and its potential to automate tasks.

💰 **Humane's AI Pin Gets Cheaper and Expands Its Reach:** Humane has lowered the price of its AI Pin, making it more accessible to consumers. They are also working on licensing their operating system to other companies, potentially expanding the use of AI Pins across various devices.

The first bits of Apple Intelligence are starting to show up on people’s phones. The features in iOS 18.1 are fairly basic: summarizing messages, writing emails, that kind of thing. Apple is already letting developers play with iOS 18.2, though, which looks like a much more substantial update. Meanwhile, the company is about to launch a bunch of new M4-powered and AI-focused Macs, and launched the iPad Mini this week. It’s a lot happening all at once, and it’s a lot to make sense of.

On this episode of The Vergecast, we try and make sense of it. The Verge’s Richard Lawler joins us as we talk through the small changes in 18.1 and the much bigger changes in 18.2, debate whether Tim Cook can really use every Apple product every day, and wonder what might be coming from Apple’s week of Mac announcements.

After that, we get into the other news in the world of AI. Anthropic built a model that can use your computer for you, which is both cool and horrifying and is also the main goal of practically every company in AI. Humane made its AI Pin cheaper, is working on licensing its operating system to other companies, and has some big questions to ask. Perplexity is under fire for copyright reasons. Watermarking AI images still doesn’t work. It’s all a lot.

Finally, in the lightning round, we talk about the Boox Palma 2, T-Mobile changing the “lifetime” deal it made with older subscribers, and the silly fight against the FTC’s new click to cancel rule. Please, don’t make us make phone calls.

If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, beginning with Apple AI:

Apple iPad Mini 2024 review: missing piecesiOS 18.2 will let everyone set new default phone and messaging appsApple’s first iOS 18.2 beta adds more AI features and ChatGPT integrationWhere are the iPhone’s WebKit-less browsers?Apple teases ‘week’ of Mac announcements starting MondayApple is preparing an M4 MacBook Air update for early next yearTim Cook says he usese every Apple product every day — how does that work?From The Wall Street Journal: Tim Cook on Why Apple’s Huge Bets Will Pay Off

And in other AI news:

Anthropic’s latest AI update can use a computer on its ownHumane slashes the price of its AI Pin after weak salesApple is ‘concerned’ about AI turning real photos into ‘fantasy’Google Photos will soon show you if an image was edited with AINews Corp sues Perplexity for ripping off WSJ and New York PostCharacter.AI and Google sued after chatbot-obsessed teen’s deathKevin Bacon, Kate McKinnon, and other creatives warn of ‘unjust’ AI threatGoogle open-sourced its watermarking tool for AI-generated text

And in the lightning round:

David Pierce’s pick: The Boox Palma 2 has a faster processor and adds a fingerprint readerRichard Lawler’s pick: Seniors are PISSED that T-Mobile won’t honor its “lifetime” price guarantee.Nilay Patel’s pick: Guess who’s suing the FTC to stop ‘click to cancel’