Apple's New Siri Update Sees MAJOR Delay

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What’s up, Tech Squad? Siri was supposed to get a major glow-up this year, but Apple just hit the snooze button on its AI ambitions. While you wait for your digital assistant to get smarter, YouTube is rolling out a cheaper ad-free plan, Cadillac is building an electric SUV the size of a small yacht, and Apple’s long-rumored smart display is also stuck in limbo.

At least your Sunday coffee won’t be delayed. Let’s get into it.

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Siri’s Huge Apple Intelligence Update? Not This Year.

If you were hoping to tell Siri, “Remind me to pick up Mom from the airport,” and have it magically fetch her flight info from an old email, check real-time flight status, and factor in traffic, you’ll have to wait a little longer.

Apple just announced that the much-anticipated “more personalized Siri” features, part of its Apple Intelligence rollout, won’t arrive in this year’s OS cycle. Instead, expect them in iOS 19 and macOS 16, which Apple hasn’t technically announced yet (but we all know they are coming).

What does this mean?

• Apple originally planned to roll out these upgrades as part of iOS 18 and macOS 15.

• The new Siri features rely on deep personal data integration, which takes time to get right.

• Apple rarely acknowledges delays, so this one must be significant.

• The delay suggests these features were never fully ready for this year’s OS updates.

The good news is Apple is prioritizing quality over speed. The bad news is we are stuck with the same-old Siri for a while longer.

First Images of New Sky Blue M4 MacBook Air

I got an early look at the new M4 MacBook Air (along with M3 iPad Air, and the new M4 Max and insane M3 Ultra Mac Studio,) which comes in a new Sky Blue color, which you can see in several images I posted to Instagram. Review coming VERY soon!

Apple’s New Smart Display? Also Delayed.

Apple’s much-rumored smart display, which was expected to launch this year, is now on hold. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the delay is tied to Apple’s postponed Siri AI upgrade, which the device was supposed to rely on.

The smart display was set to be Apple’s first true smart home hub with Apple Intelligence baked in, competing with Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub. It was expected to run on tvOS and support key Apple apps like Calendar, Notes, and Messages.

Why the delay?

• Apple pushed back its Siri AI upgrade, which was critical for this device.

• The current version of Apple Intelligence lacks smart home capabilities.

• Releasing a smart display without strong AI support wouldn’t make sense.

• Apple rarely rushes products to market if they aren’t fully ready.

Amazon and Google are pushing ahead with AI-powered smart home devices, but their rollouts are still limited. Apple’s delay might be frustrating, but it could also mean a more polished product when it finally arrives.

YouTube’s Cheaper Ad-Free Plan Comes to the U.S.

YouTube is rolling out its Premium Lite subscription in the U.S., offering an ad-free experience for $7.99 per month. That’s a solid discount from the full $13.99 YouTube Premium, but there’s a catch—you won’t get ad-free music, offline downloads, or background playback.

The goal here is simple: remove ads from most YouTube videos without adding extra perks. If you primarily watch gaming, fashion, or news content, this might be a good deal. But if you want to enjoy ad-free music videos, you’ll still need to pay for the full Premium plan.

What you need to know

• Cost: $7.99 per month, compared to $13.99 for YouTube Premium.

• No ads on most videos, except music and shorts.

• No downloads or background playback—just an ad-free experience.

• Expanding soon to Thailand, Germany, and Australia, with more countries to follow.

YouTube has been testing this plan in select markets since 2021. Now that it’s hitting the U.S., the real question is: when will YouTube finally bundle Premium with YouTube TV? Because that would actually make too much sense.

Cadillac’s Escalade IQL: The Longest SUV Ever

Cadillac is stretching the boundaries of electric luxury—literally. The new Escalade IQL adds even more length to the already massive Escalade IQ, making it the longest SUV ever built, gas or electric.

By extending the overall length to 228.5 inches, Cadillac has improved both cargo capacity and passenger comfort, especially for third-row riders. The IQL also ditches the curved rear design of the IQ in favor of a boxier silhouette, mirroring the traditional gas-powered Escalade.

What’s different?

• More legroom: Third-row passengers get 4 extra inches (now 36.7 inches total).

• More headroom: An extra inch makes the space feel less cramped.

• More cargo space: 24.2 cu.ft. behind the third row, up from 23.7 in the IQ.

• Same battery, same range: A 205kWh battery provides 460 miles of range and can add 116 miles in 10 minutes on a 350kW DC fast charger.

Starting at $132,695, the Escalade IQL will go into production in mid-2025. If you need an electric SUV that doubles as a small apartment, Cadillac has you covered.

Quick Bits

Stat: The U.S. job market in 2025 shows an uncanny resemblance to the late 1990s during the dot-com boom, with robust wage growth, nearly full employment, and heightened demand for technology, driven now by artificial intelligence. 

Quote: “The Digital Markets Act is not about targeting specific companies or countries; it’s about ensuring fair competition and protecting consumers in the digital age.” - EU lawmakers responding to U.S. criticisms of the EU’s new digital competition rules. 

Read: “Inside The Quantum Computing Crash Triggered By Nvidia CEO - And What His Upcoming ‘Quantum Day’ May Bring” - A deep dive into the recent downturn in quantum computing stocks following comments by Nvidia’s CEO, and what to expect from the upcoming ‘Quantum Day’. 

Get excited: Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona has introduced a range of innovative gadgets and concepts, including the Newnal AI phone and Samsung Display’s folding handheld console.