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I’d have placed a decent bet on Apple making a big deal about Apple Intelligence at WWDC this year, and from that I’d have predicted that the iPhone 17 would be Cupertino’s first proper AI phone.
The company somewhat fluffed the launch of Apple Intelligence, with AI-powered features for the iPhone 16 family taking a long time to roll out after its launch, and a smarter ChatGPT-centric Siri still absent. With that in mind, I’d have thought Apple would have gone harder on AI at its yearly developer's conference.
I was wrong.
Apple Intelligence was mentioned, but more as a smart virtual icing to a cake consisting mostly of the Liquid Glass design material and feature updates across Apple’s software ecosystem.
So with that in mind it’s arguably hard to draw any big insights into what’ll be in store at the next Apple event, which is likely to be a September one centred around new iPhones. But I think I can have a good stab at what the next iPhone will be like.
It’ll be boring.
Send me now new iOS(Image credit: Apple)My theory here is that the iPhone 17, if Apple does go with that nomenclature, will be a vehicle for iOS 26 with hardware upgrades taking a back seat.
While a lot of the core iOS experience will broadly be the same as iOS 18, the design changes could take a little getting used to; plus there are a host of new features in the native apps that could offer users new ways to do things.
So I suspect Apple won’t do much on the hardware side to get in the way of that experience; there’s not likely to be any big changes to the core iPhone design, camera array or materials.
Depressingly, I even expect the standard iPhone 17 will still have a 60Hz display, as it seems like Apple is one of the few companies who can get away with this and still charge a premium price.
There are some rumors that tout changes such as the use of aluminum for the frame of the iPhone 17 Pro, but I don’t buy them; the rumored iPhone 17 Air could use the lighter material, though I don’t see that phone shaking up the core design of iPhones.
Rather than champion many hardware upgrades, which in recent years have become iterative to the point of being dull, I think Apple will position the iPhone 17 range as a new chapter in getting the most out of a fresh iOS.
And I think a lot of people will buy into it.
The iPhone’s new clothes(Image credit: Apple)Much like changing up an outfit with the addition of a new shirt or coat, or swapping the strap of a watch, redesigned software can make tried and tested hardware seem fresh and new, even if most of those changes are merely aesthetic.
But I think new features like an overhauled Phone app, smart tools for Maps, Wallet and Music, plus new dedicated Games app-meets-hub will make next-generation iPhones feel a lot newer than those that have simply had camera sensor or button upgrades over their predecessors.
I’m particularly intrigued to see how the Games app plays out, as Apple has quietly been strengthening the gaming experience on iPhone, with support for titles such as Death Stranding and a suite of original games in the growing Apple Arcade service, both of which I don’t feel Android has a strong answer for.
Add in a new chip, which is all but guaranteed for the next-gen iPhones, and you could be looking at some impressive stealthy gaming phones.
With that in mind, I can see the iPhone 17 offering a family of phones for people who’ve resisted upgrading to a new iPhone for a couple of years. That’s often the case, of course, but I feel iOS 26 will be more of an upgrade catalyst even though models dating back to the iPhone 11 can run this upcoming iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system.
I'd place a very solid bet that Apple will market the iPhone 17 range as the ideal vehicle for iOS 26, and I'm forecasting that'll suck in a lot of people; let me know in the comments if you don't agree.
All that being said, I’m totally open to Apple surprising me with an iPhone that’s being given a serious reworking or just has a good clutch of hardware upgrades. I don’t personally think this is the year for that – but I don’t think that matters either.
You might also like- James Gunn has provided some big updates on the next two Batman movies
- The DC Studios co-CEO may have found a "way in" for The Brave and the Bold's story
- Gunn also reconfirmed that The Batman Part II hasn't been canceled
James Gunn has provided some exciting – and slightly worrisome – updates on the next two Batman movies.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, the DC Studios co-chief said he might have found a "way in" to finally get The Brave and The Bold's script up and running. That film, which is part of his and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe (DCU), is one of the company's biggest creative priorities.
It's not the only Batman flick in development. Matt Reeves' long-gestating The Batman Part II, which is currently slated to arrive in October 2027, is also moving forward, Gunn reconfirmed. However, other comments he made to Rolling Stone about this DCU-adjacent movie didn't provide clarity on a persistent question DC fans have about this Robert Pattinson-led franchise.
But let's start with what Gunn had to say about The Brave and the Bold. Announced as part of the initial DCU Chapter One line-up in January 2023, this movie, which is inspired by Frank Morrison's graphic novel namesake, has been a tough nut for Gunn and company to crack. Now, though, it sounds like Gunn and the film's yet-to-be-announced writer have made a breakthrough on the storytelling front.
The Brave and the Bold has been in development for over two years at this point (Image credit: DC Studios)"Batman has to have a reason for existing, right?" Gunn said. "Batman can’t just be 'oh, we’re making a Batman movie because Batman’s the biggest character in all of Warner Bros.,' which he is... so, we’re dealing with that.
"I think I have a way in, by the way," Gunn added. "I think I really know what it’s – I just am dealing with the writer to make sure that we can make it a reality."
It'll be a while before Batman makes his DCU debut – after all, Gunn and the unnamed scribe aside, the only talent attached to the project is Andy Muschietti (The Flash, It), as the DCU Chapter One film's director. Nevertheless, I'm glad to hear that there's been some movement on one of the most exciting DCU movies and TV shows on the DC Studios docket.
The two Batman problemIt's been three years since The Batman was released in theaters (Image credit: Jonathan Olley/Warner Bros.)Okay, but what about The Batman's film sequel? Here's what Gunn said about the follow-up to The Batman Epic Crime Saga's first entry: "[The] Batman Part II is not canceled. That’s the other thing I hear all the time – that The Batman Part II is canceled. It’s not. We don’t have a script. Matt [Reeves] is slow. Let him take his time. Let him do what he’s doing. God, people are mean. Let him do his thing, man."
That's great news! Well, until you start to consider the wider implications of having two different Batman projects on the go and comments Gunn has made about distinguishing one from the other.
Where the latter is concerned, Gunn has stressed that the DCU's Caped Crusader has to be distinct enough to separate him from the gritty, grounded, and almost realistic universe Reeves has co-created. However, that doesn't mean we should expect the DCU's iteration to channel the flamboyance of the '90s era of Batman movies or the slapstick nature of the Adam Scott-starring TV show from the '60s.
"[There's a need that he’s not exactly the same as Matt’s Batman," Gunn opined. "But he’s not a campy Batman. I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in a funny, campy Batman, really."
Comment from r/DC_CinematicAnd therein lies the first problem: how will Gunn and company differentiate their Dark Knight from the Reeves-Verse's one? You could incorporate the fantastical elements from Batman literature, but there's a fine line to be drawn between the extraordinary and the purposeful realism that the best Batman movies, shows, and comic books contain.
The easiest solution – according to some fans, anyway – would be to merge the Reeves-Verse with the DCU and install Pattinson's Bruce Wayne as the latter's billionaire vigilante. It's a topic of conversation that's dominated online and in-person discussions for months, so much so, in fact, that it came up during the last big DCU update Gunn and Safran gave in February.
While Gunn and Reeves have discussed such a possibility, they have always played down suggestions that it'll ever happen. Gunn did so again during his chat with Rolling Stone – "It’s not likely at all", Gunn said. However, that quote, coupled with another – "I would never say zero, because you just never know" – haven't exactly closed the door on Pattinson becoming the DCU's Caped Crusader.
Do I think that'll happen? No. If it was going to, it would've done by now. Each time that Gunn and/or Reeves leave the door ajar on it, though, it only reignites the perpetual debate about whether it should be done or not. So, here I am, Messrs Gunn, Safran, and Reeves: clarify this once and for all by ruling out a merging of the DCU and Reeves-Verse. Do so and we (including you three!) can all get on with our lives without having to read any more about this already tiresome discussion.
You might also like- Microsoft report warns of "the infinite workday" creeping in
- Workers are coming online earlier and finishing later than ever before
- They're also being interrupted by an email or chat message every few minutes
New research from Microsoft has revealed many of us are struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance - and that an overload of tasks could be what's stopping us from achieving any kind of productivity.
The company's June 2025 Work Trend Index Special Report has warned of "the infinite workday" which it says is a "significant shift" in the hours we work, largely thanks to the influence of hybrid working locations - and, of course, AI.
The report, based on "trillions" of productivity signals such as emails, chat messages and meetings gathered across Microsoft 365, warns the modern workday no longer has a clear beginning or end - and has urged for greater AI tool adoption to help lessen this burden on everyday workers.
Working...6am til 8pm? What a way to make a living"Our research, based on trillions of globally aggregated and anonymized Microsoft 365 productivity signals, reveals a challenging new roadblock: a seemingly infinite workday," Microsoft noted.
"AI offers a way out of the mire, especially if paired with a reimagined rhythm of work. Otherwise, we risk using AI to accelerate a broken system."
Microsoft said it found a major increase in users coming online by 6am, when 40% of users are apparently scanning through their inbox to prioritize tasks for the day.
By 8am, Microsoft Teams chat has overtaken email, with half of all meetings then taking place between 9–11am and 1–3pm - notably, the time when most of us are the most focused and productive throughout the day.
Tuesdays were found to be the busiest day for meetings, with 23% - whereas Fridays have just 16% of all meetings. Troublingly, Microsoft found meetings being held after 8pm are up 16% year over year, showing late finishes are also becoming worryingly normal.
(Image credit: Pexels.com)Weekend email usage also saw a major increase, with nearly 20% of employees checking their email before noon on Saturday and Sunday - and over 5% are back working on emails on Sunday evenings.
The report found the average worker receives 117 emails and 153 Teams messages daily, meaning they are disrupted by an email, chat, or meeting every 2 minutes. Most employees were now also found to send or receive over 50 chats outside of their core business hours, risking their winding-down time.
"This points to a larger truth: the modern workday for many has no clear start or finish," Microsoft concluded. "As business demands grow more complex and expectations continue to rise, time once reserved for focus or recovery may now be spent catching up, prepping, and chasing clarity."
"The signals are clear: it’s time to break the cycle. The future of work won’t be defined by how much drudgery we automate, but by what we choose to fundamentally reimagine. AI can give us the leverage to redesign the rhythm of work, refocus our teams on new and differentiating work, and fix what has become a seemingly infinite workday. The question isn’t whether work will change. It’s whether we will."
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- OpenAI is moving its government AI models under a new umbrella
- OpenAI for Government will provide AI at the federal, state, and local level
- The AI developer has already signed a pioneering deal with the DoD
OpenAI is consolidating its US government AI tools, such as ChatGPT Gov, under a single umbrella - OpenAI for Government.
OpenAI, alongside the likes of Anthropic and Meta, has partnered multiple times with the US government to develop new AI tools specialised for government workloads.
The new initiative will provide federal, state, and local governments with access to OpenAI’s most secure and compliant models, models specialized for national security, insight into upcoming models and tools, and support.
More AI models for governmentKicking off the new project, OpenAI has signed a $200 million with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO).
The project will focus on improving administrative work such as service member healthcare access, to boosting cyber defenses and data acquisition.
“Across these efforts, we’re aiming to improve both the day-to-day experience of public service and to help government employees feel more empowered, more efficient, and more supported in their critical missions,” OpenAI said.
“We are already seeing how OpenAI can help public servants at the state level spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on high-impact work,” the announcement continued, with Open AI referencing the effectiveness of ChatGPT use for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which saved employees around 105 minutes per day.
OpenAI is also deploying AI models at Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Sandia National Labs to improve scientific research, innovation, and national security.
“We are just getting started, and we look forward to helping U.S. government leaders harness AI to better serve the public. We are committed to working in close partnership with agencies, advancing their missions with powerful tools that are safe, and secure,” the company added.
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