US Sen. Ted Cruz has introduced a bill, the Sandbox Act, aimed at giving companies developing AI technologies a way to bypass regulations by requesting a government waiver.

According to the bill, the act would «establish a Federal regulatory sandbox program for artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.» 

In introducing the bill, Cruz said it would allow AI tech to be unhindered by «outdated or inflexible federal rules.» In addition to establishing a program for this, the bill, if passed, would allow AI companies to request a two-year waiver that could be renewed for up to 10 years. As part of that waiver application, tech companies would need to offer details of how they’ll address safety and financial risks.

The proposed act comes several months after Congress removed a spending bill addition that would have blocked state AI regulations for 10 years, a measure Cruz was also behind. In the interim, there’s been much debate on the role the government should take in regulating — or not regulating — AI technologies.

In a press release related to the Sandbox Act, Cruz said the bill is about «Winning the AI race» against countries such as China. Cruz said: «Following this new AI framework can turbocharge economic activity, cut through bureaucratic red tape, and empower American AI developers while protecting human flourishing. The Sandbox Act is the first step. It embraces our nation’s entrepreneurial spirit and gives AI developers the room to create while still mitigating any health or consumer risks.»

Now that we know all the details about the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and the new iPhone Air, it’s time to ask the most important question: when can we get them into our hands?

Preorders for all of this year’s iPhone models begin Friday at 5 a.m. PT. Then begins what feels like an endless slog before the new phones finally arrive (which, every year, is punctuated by the arrival of iPhone cases several days beforehand, as if to taunt us). So when, exactly, can we expect to see our favorite delivery person drive up with a phone-sized box? Or when can we pick up a new iPhone at a nearby Apple or carrier store?

Did you miss the reveal? Catch up and learn everything announced at the 2025 fall Apple event, including iPhones, new Apple Watch models, and new AirPods Pro 3.

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When will the iPhone 17 be released?

For nearly a decade, Apple has announced its new iPhone lineup in early September. The only exception was in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when the release was pushed back to Oct. 23 for the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, and Nov. 13 for the iPhone 12 Mini and 12 Pro Max.

This year has stuck to the tried-and-true schedule. After announcing the phones on Tuesday, preorders begin on Friday, and the first deliveries will arrive Sept. 19.

Here’s a chart for the release dates of iPhone models through the iPhone 13 series; we’ve added the iPhone Air as its own category, even though it follows the same schedule as the iPhone 17, because Apple isn’t giving it a version number:

Will all of the new iPhones be released in September?

Apple is on track to release everything in the fall except its least expensive option. The iPhone 16E was released in February, and is still available as the least expensive iPhone model. Apple is widely expected to follow the same format for the rumored iPhone 17E in February 2026.

Apple’s future iPhone release dates

Apple is expected to change its release format with the rumored iPhone 18. Reports suggest that Apple will only release higher-end models in fall 2026 — iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, Air and a rumored new foldable iPhone — and release the rest of the line in winter 2027.

Why does Apple split iPhone release dates?

By pushing its top-of-the-line Pro and Pro Max models in September, Apple can capture much of the holiday shopping season. Releasing the more basic models in the winter allows a second crest of excitement, but diehard fans and holiday shoppers will have already spent their money on the pricier models in the fall.

Apple created quite a buzz with its recent announcement that the new Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 will all be hitting shelves next week. However, they’re not the only options out there. For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is one of our favorite smartwatches of 2025, and right now you can grab one at a massive discount.

Woot has slashed a whopping $140 off the price of the 46mm Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, which drops this 2025 smartwatch down to a record low of $360. This offer is available through Sept. 13, but could easily sell out before then, so don’t wait too long to place your order or you could miss out.

Other than some gripes with the onboard Running Coach, CNET’s wearable tech expert Vanessa Hand Orellana found a lot to like about Samsung’s latest smartwatch. She commended its stylish design, advanced health tools and Gemini AI support, and stated that «it has nearly every feature I could hope for.»

It features a vibrant 46mm AMOLED display with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, as well as 2GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. It’s also equipped with a built-in GPS and has tons of fitness functions like sleep coaching, vascular load monitoring and a daily energy score. Plus, it’s fully waterproof up to 50 meters, and boasts an impressive battery life of about 30 hours. Just note that some features can only be used when paired with a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Why this deal matters

Released this year, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is one of the most advanced smartwatches on the market for Android users. It has an eye-catching design and comes equipped with tons of helpful AI features and fitness tracking tools. Plus, this Woot deal drops it down to the all-time lowest price we’ve seen, making it a serious bargain.

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