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

Jun 20, 2025

Delve into the hidden gems of iOS 26, including adjustable alarm snooze lengths and enhanced file management. Discover the future of Siri, anticipated with AI advancements but facing delays. Explore the intriguing new features of visionOS, from spatial widgets to personal experiences with the immersive Vision Pro. The hosts tackle Apple's self-service repair challenges for iPads and discuss the intriguing potential of foldable iPhones. It's a mix of humor and tech insights that keeps you engaged!

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INSIGHT

Siri AI Delay Explained

Apple's AI-enhanced Siri release is delayed to spring 2026 due to initial over-optimism about its readiness.
The first AI Siri version only worked correctly about two-thirds of the time and needed a complete overhaul.

INSIGHT

Open AI Model for Developers

Apple allows third-party developers to use an on-device foundation AI model via a simple API.
This enables free, powerful AI features in apps without costly cloud API fees, benefiting indie developers.

ANECDOTE

AI Summarizes Gym Workouts

Graham Bowers shares using the AI model to summarize gym workouts with a title and brief description.
This significantly eases generating user-friendly summaries without paying for third-party AI services.

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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.