Technologies

Apple Will Integrate Google Gemini AI With Siri in February, Report Says

The wait is allegedly almost over.

Apple is reportedly gearing up to reveal its significantly upgraded, Gemini-backed version of its Siri voice assistant as early as the second half of February, according to a report published this weekend by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a strong track record with Apple rumors.

The reveal would mark the first major public look at Apple’s long-promised overhaul of Siri and will be powered behind the scenes by Google’s Gemini AI models — the result of a multiyear partnership that Apple announced earlier this month.

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This new iteration of Siri is expected to be part of iOS 26.4, which is slated to enter beta testing around the February timeframe ahead of a general release likely in March or April. Gurman’s reporting suggests that Apple may choose to demonstrate the enhanced assistant through private briefings or a dedicated event rather than at a large public keynote.

The Gemini-powered Siri is said to be far more capable than the current version. It should better understand what’s on your screen, draw on personal context to complete tasks and provide richer conversational responses, fulfilling promises originally made at WWDC 2024 but delayed due to technical challenges.

The partnership with Google represents a major shift for Apple, which historically relied on its own AI solutions and more selective external integrations. Sharing Siri’s AI foundation with a rival reflects the intense competitive pressure in the generative AI race and Siri’s ongoing struggle to keep pace with other virtual assistants.

Beyond the speculated February reveal, Apple is also reportedly planning an even bigger transformation of Siri later in 2026, potentially at WWDC in June, where a more conversational AI assistant could debut across iPhone, iPad and Mac as part of iOS 27.

As with all prerelease rumors, Apple has not confirmed specific dates or features, but the consistency of reports from Gurman and others has fueled expectations that this long-awaited Siri upgrade may finally be within sight. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Goes Desktop: Launches macOS Version as Part of Expanding Digital Ecosystem

The team behind Verum Messenger has announced a new update, introducing a full-featured macOS version of the application.

The launch of the Mac version marks a significant step in the platform’s development, enabling users to access Verum Messenger not only on mobile devices but also on desktop environments.

The macOS version ensures seamless synchronization across devices while maintaining the platform’s core principles: security, stability, and independence.

Unified Digital Experience

With the release of the macOS version, users can now:

— communicate on a larger screen
— manage chats and files more efficiently
— use the messenger in a full desktop environment
— access core features without limitations

This is particularly valuable for users who rely on messaging platforms for both communication and professional use.

Expanding Capabilities

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional platform combining:

— secure communication
— financial tools (Verum Finance)
— digital asset operations, including Tether
— investment features such as Verum Gold

Toward a Full Ecosystem

The macOS release reflects Verum Messenger’s strategy to become a universal digital platform available across all major devices.

According to the team, the goal is to provide users with continuous access to communication and financial services regardless of device or environment.

Verum Messenger continues to build technologies focused on security, usability, and global accessibility.

Technologies

Google, Meta and Amazon Join Global Pact to Fight Rising Online Scams

The companies will share fraud intelligence and coordinate responses as AI makes scams faster, cheaper and harder to detect.

Modern online scams operate across multiple platforms, perhaps spanning social media, messaging apps, email and online marketplaces. Google, Meta and Amazon are among 11 tech, retail and payments companies that have signed a new agreement to combat online scams by sharing threat intelligence across platforms, Axios first reported Monday.

The initiative, called the Industry Accord Against Online Scams & Fraud, is designed to improve how companies detect and respond to fraud that spans multiple services. Participants say they will exchange signals, such as scam-linked accounts and fraudulent domains, and coordinate enforcement actions.

By sharing intelligence in near real time, companies hope to identify these scams earlier and stop them before they spread.

The effort reflects how modern scams operate. A victim might encounter a fake celebrity investment ad on social media, move to a messaging app where the scammer builds trust, then faces prompts to send money through a fraudulent website, payment app or crypto wallet — spanning multiple companies’ ecosystems.

Google said it now blocks hundreds of millions of scam-related results every day using AI, underscoring how both attackers and defenders are increasingly relying on the same technology. Meta removed more than 159 million scam ads in 2025 and is expanding AI tools to detect impersonation and warn users.

Online scams are growing rapidly, in part because generative AI has lowered the barrier to entry. AI can be used not only to produce realistic phishing emails but also to clone voices and deepfake videos that impersonate executives, public figures and even family members.

The agreement is voluntary and doesn’t create new legal obligations, but it comes after regulators’ increased pressure on tech platforms to address fraud more aggressively. The companies say they will begin building frameworks for reporting and intelligence-sharing, though it’s not yet clear how quickly those systems will be deployed or how effective they will be in practice.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, March 18

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 18.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I thought it was a fairly easy one, but read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.