You don't have to wait for the official sales to begin in order to score early Walmart Black Friday deals.

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Automakers and parts suppliers would struggle if President-elect Donald J. Trump followed through on his threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.

The Silicon Valley company will receive less money from the CHIPS Act after winning a $3 billion military contract and changing some of its investment commitments.

MacworldIf youre looking for a deal on anything Apple sellsan iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, MacBook, iPhone or anything elsetheres no better time to get one than Black Friday. No matter what youre looking to buy, youre going to find a great priceand some are at the lowest weve ever seen.The sales start earlier every year, but the best deals are usually seen between Black Friday (November 29) and Cyber Monday (December 2). However, as we head into Black Friday week, were already seeing fantastic deals, so you might not want to wait. Well be updating this page regularly as more discounts come in.If you want to know what Apple is doing for Black Friday, its offering gift cards up to $200/160 with select purchases. We have the details of that deal and whats included in our Apples 2024 Black Friday Shopping Event article.Apple Black Friday 2024 deals: The best deals on every Apple productBlack Friday is a great time to get an Apple product for less, but the discounts come and go very quickly. Stay tuned to this page up to and throughout the Black Friday weekend as we update you with the best prices on new Apple products as they arrive.Many of the best deals we see are on Amazon U.S. or Amazon U.K., but well also be checking resellers such as Best Buy, B&H and Walmart in the U.S. and KRCS, AO, Argos, John Lewis, Currys, Laptops Direct and eBuyer in the U.K. MacBook Air and MacBook Pro deals for Black Friday 2024Apple released new MacBook Pros with M4 chips in late October 2024. At the same time, it upgraded the RAM in all MacBook Air models from 8GB to 16GB for the same starting prices, effectively a $200/200 discount. So if youre shopping make sure the model youre buying has 16GB of RAM. We dont recommend buying a model with 8GB of RAM unless its much more than $200/200 cheaper than the 16GB model.U.S. Amazon, M4, 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/16GB RAM: $1,399 ($200 off, MSRP $1,599)Amazon, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/16GB RAM: $1,599 ($200 off, MSRP $1,799)Amazon, M4 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/24GB RAM: $2,199 ($300 off with coupon, MSRP $2,499)Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM): $749 ($250 off, MSRP $999)Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM): $844 ($255 off, MSRP $1,099)Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM): $1,044 ($255 off, MSRP $1,299)Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 512GB/16GB RAM): $1,234 ($265 off, MSRP $1,499)Save money on the MacBook Pro this Black Friday.FoundryAdditionally, Apples older MacBook Pro models are on clearance as retailers look to clear out remaining stock:Best Buy, M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/8GB RAM: $1,199 ($400 off, Was $1,599 Clearance)B&H, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM: $1,699 ($300 off, Was $1,999 Clearance)Best Buy, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/18GB RAM: $2,099 ($300 off, Was $2,399 Clearance)Best Buy, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM: $1,999 ($500 off, Was $2,499 Clearance)Best Buy, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/36GB RAM: $2,399 ($500 off, Was $2,899 Clearance)U.K.KRCS, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/16GB RAM, 1,439.10 (159 off, RRP 1,599)KRCS, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/16GB RAM, 1,619.10 (179 off, RRP 1,799)KRCS, M4 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/24GB RAM, 1,799.10 (199 off, RRP 1,999)KRCS, M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/24GB RAM, 2,249.10 (250 off, RRP 2,499)KRCS, M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/36GB RAM, 3,149.10 (349 off, RRP 3,499)KRCS, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM) 899.10 (100 off, RRP 999)KRCS, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 512GB/16GB RAM) 989.10 (110 off, RRP 1,099)Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 512GB/24GB RAM) 1,345.39 (150 off, RRP 1,499)KRCS, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM) 1,169.10 (129 off, RRP 1,299)KRCS, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 512GB/16GB RAM) 1,349.10 (149 off, RRP 1,499)Apples older MacBook models are on clearance at the following retailers:Argos, M3, 14-inch MacBook Pro, 10-core GPU, 512GB/8GB RAM: 1,299 (400 off, Was 1,699- Clearance)Argos, M3, 14-inch MacBook Pro, 10-core GPU, 1TB/8GB RAM: 1,499 (400 off, Was 1,899 Clearance)Amazon, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM: 1,699 (400 off, Was 2,099 Clearance)Argos, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/36GB RAM: 2,799 (500 off, Was 3,299 Clearance)Argos, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM: 2,099 (500 off, Was 2,599 Clearance)John Lewis, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/36GB RAM: 2,549 (450 off, Was 2,999 Clearance)Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (10-core GPU, 512GB/8GB RAM) 949 (150 off, Was 1,099 Clearance)iMac and Mac mini deals for Black Friday 2024The iMac and Mac mini both received new M4 chips in October, with the Mac mini also getting a dramatic redesign that shrunk the case down to just 5 inches. Like the MacBooks, these new Macs now start at 16GB of RAM, an option that was previously an extra $200/200. So be sure to double-check that youre buying the updated model with an M4 processor. Older iMacs only offer 8GB of RAM, so the price should match that.Grab money off a new iMac.FoundryU.S.Amazon, Mac mini, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB: $559 ($40 off, MSRP $599)Amazon, Mac mini, M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB: $890 ($109 off with coupon, MSRP $999)Amazon, Mac mini, M4 Pro, 24GB, 512GB: $1,349 ($50 off, MSRP $1,399)Amazon, M4 iMac, 8-core CPU/GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB: $1,150 ($149 off with coupon, MSRP $1,299)Amazon, M4 iMac, 10-core CPU/GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB: $1,350 ($149 off with coupon, MSRP $1,499)Amazon, Apple Studio Display (Tile-Adjustable Stand): $1,300 ($299 off, MSRP $1,599)There are savings on the older models as well:Amazon, M2 Mac mini, 8GB RAM, 256GB: $499 ($100 off, MSRP $599 Clearance)Amazon, M3 iMac, 8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB: $1,119 ($180 off, MSRP was $1,299 Clearance)Amazon, M3 iMac, 10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB: $1,150 ($350 off, MSRP was $1,499 Clearance)U.K.In the U.K. when Apple announced the iMac and Mac mini in 2024 it dropped prices compared to the previous generation, so keep this in mind if considering a discount on an M3 model. KRCS: M4 Mac mini, 256GB/16GB RAM, 539.10 (59.90 off, RRP 599)KRCS: M4 Pro Mac mini, 512GB/24GB RAM, 1,259.10 (140.90 off, RRP 1,399)KRCS: M4 iMac, 8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM, 1,169.10 (129.90 off, RRP 1,299)KRCS: M4 iMac, 10-Core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM, 1,349.10 (149.90 off, RRP 1,499)These older models are also discounted:Amazon: M2 Pro Mac mini, 512GB/16GB RAM: 1,197 (201 off, RRP was 1,399 Clearance)Amazon: M2 Mac mini, 256GB/8GB RAM: 469 (180 off, RRP was 649 Clearance)Amazon: M2 Mac mini, 512GB/8GB RAM: 638 (211 off, RRP was 849 Clearance)John Lewis, 24-inch M3 iMac,10-core GPU, 512GB/8GB RAM: 1,493 (305 off, RRP was 1,799 Clearance)AirPods deals for Black Friday 2024The AirPods 4 with and without ANC are Apples newest earbuds that replaced the AirPods generation 2 and 3 in September. Apple also updated the AirPods Max with a USB-C port in September, but otherwise, its the same as the Lightning model. And while the AirPods Pro 2 are a couple of years old, Apple added a new feature in iOS 18,1 that lets it work as a hearing aid.We usually see some tremendous savings on the standard AirPods over Black Friday, but this year beware: you may see a blowout deal on the older models, but unless youre on a very tight budget, our advice is that even if you see a good deal on the AirPods 3 you should spring for one of the AirPods 4 models on sale even if they cost more. The AirPods 4 without ANC cost $129/129 and compare very favorably with the AirPods 3 which used to cost $179/179.AirPods 4 are Apples newest earbuds and are already on sale.Petter AhrnstedtU.S.Amazon,AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C case): $154 ($95 off, MSRP $249)Amazon,AirPods 4: $119 ($10 off, MSRP $129)Amazon,AirPods 4 with ANC: $169 ($10 off, MSRP $179)Amazon, AirPods Max (USB-C): $500 ($49 off, MSRP $549)Amazon,AirPods Max (Lightning): $399 ($150 off; MSRP $549)U.K. Amazon, AirPods (4th gen, 2024, with ANC): 169 (10 off, RRP 179) Amazon, AirPods (4th gen, 2024, without ANC): 119 (10 off, RRP 129)There are also savings on older models, but as we mentioned above, we recommend skipping any AirPods 3rd gen deals because the AirPods 4 are much better.Argos, AirPods (3rd gen, Magsafe): 139 (40 off, RRP was 179 Clearance)Argos, AirPod Max, Lightning, 2020: 429 (70 off, RRP was 499 Clearance)Apple Watch deals for Black Friday 2024Grab yourself an Apple Watch deal for Black Friday.Mike SawhApple launched the Apple Watch Series 10 with a slightly larger screen in September 2024 as well as a new black color for the Apple Watch Ultra. Traditionally, any savings around $50 is an excellent deal. Look out for the Apple Watch Series 9 as there may be some deals on the discontinued model.U.S.Amazon,Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm): $329 ($70 off, MSRP $399)Amazon,Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm): $359 ($70 off, MSRP $429)Amazon,Apple Watch SE 2 (40mm): $149 ($100 off, MSRP $249)Amazon,Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm): $199 ($80 off, MSRP $279)Amazon,Apple Watch Ultra 2: $700 ($99 off, MSRP $799)Amazon,Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm): $280 ($119 off, MSRP was $399 Clearance)U.K. Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + Cellular): 769 (30 off, RRP 799)Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm): 409 (20 off, RRP 429)Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm): 379 (20 off, RRP 399)Argos, Apple Watch SE (40mm) (2022): 199 (20 off, RRP 219)Argos, Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm): 329 (100 off, RRP was 429 Clearance)Argos, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm): 299 (100 off, RRP was 399 Clearance)iPad deals for Black Friday 2024Apple updated all of its iPads in 2024 with the exception of the 10th-gen entry-level model (though it did get a price cut to $349). The iPad mini was the most recent model to get a refresh, with a new chip and 8GB of RAM. We are seeing some good deals on new iPads. Grab a discounted iPad this Black Friday.FoundryU.S.Amazon, iPad mini (A17 Pro, 128GB): $400 ($99 off with coupon, MSRP $499)Amazon,11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB): $499 ($100 off, MSRP $599)Amazon,13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB): $699 ($100 off, MSRP $799)Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, 8GB RAM): $850 ($149 off with coupon, MSRP $999)Amazon,11-inch M4 iPad Pro (2TB, 16GB RAM): $1,699 ($300 off, MSRP $1,999)Amazon, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, 8GB RAM): $1,099 ($200 off, MSRP $1,299)Amazon, 10th gen iPad (64GB): $259 ($90 off, MRSP $349)Amazon, Apple Pencil (1st-gen): $59 ($40 off, RRP $99)Amazon, Apple Pencil (2nd-gen): $80 ($49 off, MSRP $129)Amazon, Apple Pencil (USB-C): $69 ($10 off, MSRP $79)Amazon, Apple Pencil Pro: $95 ($34 off, MSRP $129)U.K. Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB): 559.97 (39 off, RRP 599)Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 512GB): 843.97 (55 off, RRP 899)Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB): 749 (50 off, RRP 799)Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2, 512GB): 1,029.97 (70 off, RRP 1,099)KRCS, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB): 979.02 (19.98 off, RRP 999)Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB): 1,123.97 (75 off, RRP 1,199)John Lewis, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB): 1,249 (50 off, RRP 1,299)Amazon, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB): 1,410 (89 off, RRP 1,499)KRCS, iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 128GB): 489.02 (9.98 off, RRP 499)KRCS, iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 256GB) 587.02 (11.98 off, RRP 599)KRCS, iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 512GB): 783.02 (15.98 off, RRP 799)Amazon,10th-gen iPad (64GB): 299 (30 off, RRP 329)Amazon, 10th gen iPad (256GB): 437.69 (61 off, RRP 499)Amazon, Apple Pencil Pro: 109 (20 off, RRP 129)Amazon, Apple Pencil USB C: 69 (10 off, RRP 79)Amazon, Apple Pencil 1st gen: 79 (20 off, RRP 99)iPhone deals for Black Friday 2024U.S.Most iPhone deals in the U.S. are through carriers and require a trade-in or adding a new line. You can read our best Black Friday iPhone deals roundup for more information.U.K.U.K. readers can save money on a new iPhone.David Price / FoundryAmazon, iPhone 16, 128GB, 779 (20 off, RRP 799)Amazon, iPhone 16 Pro, 128GB, 979 (20 off, RRP 999)Amazon, iPhone 16 Pro Max, 256GB, 1,179 (20 off, RRP 1,199)Amazon, iPhone 15, 128GB, 649 (50 off, RRP now 699)Amazon, iPhone 15 Plus, 128GB, 779 (20 off, RRP now 799)Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro, 256GB, 949 (150 off, RRP was 1,099 Clearance)Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB, 1,049 (150 off, RRP was 1,199 Clearance)Amazon, iPhone 14: 549 (50 off, RRP now 599)Amazon, iPhone SE (64GB): 379 (50 off, RRP 429)Amazon, iPhone 13 (128GB): 449 (RRP was 499 Clearance)Apple accessories deals for Black Friday 2024In October, Apple updated its Mac accessories with USB-C ports but didnt bring any other changes. If youre buying a new Apple Pencil the Apple Pencil Pro is the newest model and compatible with the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini. The USB-C Apple Pencil is also compatible with these models as well as the 10th-gen iPad, but doesnt have squeeze gestures or magnetic charging. If you see a deal on the any Apple Pencils make sure they work with your iPad!Thiago Trevisan/FoundryU.S.Amazon, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID: $128 ($20 off, MSRP $149)Amazon, Magic TrackPad: $109 ($10 off, MSRP $129)Amazon, Magic Mouse: $68 ($11 off, MSRP $79)Amazon, Black Magic Mouse: $80 ($19 off, MSRP $99)Amazon, Apple Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro M4: $249.99 ($50 off, MSRP $299)Amazon, Apple Magic Keyboard Folio for 10th gen iPad: $199 ($50 off, MSRP $249)Amazon, Apple Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Air M2: $224.99 ($50 off, MSRP $299)Amazon, AirTags 4-pack: $73 ($26 off, MSRP $99)Amazon, AirTag, single: $24 ($5 off, MSRP $29)Amazon, Apple MagSafe Charger (2m): $35 ($14 off, MSRP $49)U.K.KRCS, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID: 119 (30 off, MSRP 149)KRCS, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID & numeric keys: 145 (34 off, MSRP 179)Amazon, Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (no Touch ID): 109.65 (20 off, RRP 129)John Lewis, Magic Keyboard (no Touch ID): 84.15 (14.85 off, RRP 99) Amazon, Magic Trackpad (Black): 129 (20 off, RRP 149)Amazon, Magic Mouse: 53 (26 off, RRP 79)Amazon, Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11-inch M4: 284 (15 off, RRP 299)Amazon, Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad (10th generation): 199 (50 off, RRP 249)Amazon, AirTag (4 pack): 84 (35 off, RRP 119)Amazon, Single AirTag: 28 (7 off, RRP 35)Amazon, Apple TV 4K, 128GB: 158 (11 off, RRP 169)Apple display deals for Black Friday 2024Amazon, Apple Studio Display (Tilt Adjustable Stand): $1,300 ($299 off, MSRP $1,599)Amazon, Apple Studio Display (Nano-Texture Glass, Tilt/Height-Adjustable Stand): $2,000 ($299 off, MSRP $2,299)Black Friday 2024: Apples shopping eventEvery year Apple holds a shopping event from Black Friday (November 29 in 2024) to Cyber Monday (December 2). However, since Apple rarely discounts its products, the event consists of gift card offers rather than actual savings. The newest products are excluded, so dont expect any offers on the iPhone 16 or new MacBooks.You can get gift cards for the following amounts with the following purchases made on Apples U.S. site or Apples U.K. site. Heres how it compares to last year and the year before.202420232022iPhone 15$75n/aiPhone 14$50$75iPhone 13n/a$50$50iPhone SE$25$25$50iPad Pro$100$50n/aiPad Air$75$75$50iPad mini $50$50iPad (10th gen.)$50$50n/aiPad (9th gen.)n/an/a$3015-inch MacBookAir$200$200n/a13-inch MacBookAir$175$175$15013-inch MacBookAir (M2)$150$150$150Mac mini$100$100MacBook Pro 14-inch & 16-inch$250iMac 24-inch$150Apple Watch Series 10n/an/aApple Watch Series 9 n/a$50n/aApple Watch SE$50$50$50AirPods (2ndgeneration) n/a$25$25AirPods (3rdgeneration)n/a$25$25AirPods 4$25n/an/aAirPods Pro (2ndgeneration)$50$50$50AirPods Max$75$75$75ApplePencil (2ndgeneration) $25$25 $25 HomePod$50$50n/aApple TV 4K$25$25 n/aBlack Friday 2024: Where to shop for Apple dealsStay tuned to Macworld throughout November to find the best deals as they arrive. But if youre looking for a specific color or capacity, you can check out the following retailers. In the U.S., here are the best stores to shop for Black Friday deals:AppleAmazonBest BuyCostcoTargetWalmartIf youre based in the U.K., youll find deals at the following shops:AppleAO.comAmazonArgosCarphone WarehouseCurryseBuyerJohn LewisKRCSLaptops DirectVeryBlack Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple productsCheck out these roundups for the best Apple deals:Apple Black Friday 2024 saleBest Black Friday 2024 Apple dealsBest Black Friday 2024 Mac DealsBest Black Friday 2024 MacBook dealsBest Black Friday 2024 AirPods dealsBest Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch dealsBest Black Friday 2024 iPad dealsBest Black Friday 2024 iPhone dealsBest Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor dealsBest Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive dealsBest Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory dealsBest Black Friday deals on Mac Thunderbolt and USB-C docks and hubs

MacworldYes, the Macalope is still talking about the iPhone mini.No, you stop hitting yourself.Like a man continually trying to run the 100-meter hurdles with his hand handcuffed to his ankle, the horny one is going to go at it again and argue Apple went about making a small iPhone wrong.Everyone needs a hobby.Recent iPhone sales estimates would appear to put the kibosh on any thoughts that some people actually wanted smaller iPhones. That is until you fold up these numbers, cut them into a snowflake, and then hold them up to the light to divine the true meaning of Christmas.Or something like that.The upshot of CIRPs latest iPhone model share estimates is that the share that was taken by the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini appears to have gone to larger phones. Of course, thats not likely how that occurred. It wasnt like little phone lovers suddenly decided they were wrong and bought the biggest phone they could get their tiny hands on. The Macalope had both minis and went with the smallest new iPhone he could get this year: the iPhone 16. (Theres just so long you can hold out.) Its simply that more people who had bought the smaller iPhones bought bigger ones.One thing is certainly true: if you dont make a small iPhone, no one is going to buy one. But like everyone Pee Wee Herman knew, the Macalope has a big but. And that is what we will never know is how well an iPhone mini with a top-of-the-line processor and camera would have sold. The Macalope didnt buy the iPhone mini (twice) because it was cheaper. He bought it because it was smaller. Apple never made the mini he actually wanted.IDGStill, as far as boats that have set sail go, this one is long gone. Out of the harbor, across the ocean, and over the edge of the world kind of sailed. Argonauts just tumbling off of it as it falls forever. At this point, it is beyond futile to argue in favor of a smaller iPhone.I mean, thats not going to stop the Macalope, of course. Hes probably going to keep talking about the iPhone mini until the heat death of the universe.The point is, its likely some people are turning to larger phones for reasons other than the screen size, such as longer battery life and a larger starting capacity. Most surely do want the bigger screens, but probably not everyone.Well, look, if we cant have small, how about thin?: iPhone 17 Air design revealed: 5-6mm aluminum case, single camera, more.We may find out what people really want when Apple ships the iPhone Air next year. The screen size will be in between the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max at 6.6 inches, but Apple will apparently grease the skids for the new device by not shipping an iPhone 17 Plus.Oh. Must be nice to be Apples favorite. The Macalope wonders how well the iPhone minis would have sold if Apple hadnt shipped the base iPhone 12 and 13. Guess well never know.While the screen size will fit nicely for iPhone Plus fans at just 0.1 inch smaller, one thing might not. Unsurprisingly, the device will also have a smaller battery than current iPhones, but it remains to be seen how battery life ultimately compares. If the battery life is equivalent to that of an imaginary iPhone 17 mini, will customers still go for the thinnovation? Guess well see.The Macalopes not at all rooting for the iPhone 17 Air to fail. If anything he likes seeing Apple trying new form factors. Speaking of which, heres a new form factor for you Apple: the iPhone Pro mini.Just a thought.

Nvidia on Monday showed off a new generative AI (genAI) model that can be used to create all kinds of sounds and music:Fugatto(which stands for Foundational Generative Audio Transformer Opus 1).By entering a text prompt, a user can make Fugatto create basically any sound, such as a trumpet barking like a dog. The genAI model can also be used to change the dialect of a singer or turn a piano piece into a song,according to Reuters.Fugatto has been trained on open source data, and there is currently no official release date. However, the idea is that the model will eventually be used in the production of music, films and games. The video below from Nvidia highlights some of Fugatto can do.

Brazils antitrust body has joined a chorus of regulators todemandthat Apple permit external payment methods in iOS apps. Its just the latest page in an ongoing story, but might be enough to break this camels backbone.What this means, at the risk of stating the obvious, is that Apple now faces so much pressure to open up to external payment systems, it could finally make sense for it to bite the bullet and open up across all its territories rather than continue to fight.Apple has already beenforced to open up in this way and also tothird-party app stores in the EU, and to let US developers sell in-app content outside the App Store. It nowfaces similar pressure in the UK. But while it resists each of these moves, there is a cost to the company in legal fees and reputational damage attached to each battle in this conflict at some point, it might make better business sense to cede the field.A potential opportunityWhile I dont expect Apple is at all thrilled at how these cookies are crumbling, perhaps there is a way to turn all of this adversity into opportunity. If theres ever been a time to add features and improvements to the payment systems Apple already provides, this is it.It might also be time for Apple to take its payments infrastructure to other platforms and markets. Why shouldnt you be able to pay for Android apps using Apples payment systems? Why not offer Apple payments to gamers from within Fortnite? Why not turn payments into products and grab an Apple-sized slice of the wider payments pie?Customers from inside other ecosystems might be ready to embrace Apples rock-solid, highly secure, privacy-first payment system. What Im saying is that Apple has a unique chance to compete, one from which it can continue to evangelize the advantages of the services (and platforms) it already provides for in-app purchases and everything else.At the end of the day, the best way to keep people using its payments systems is to convince them that they want to use that system even if they have a choice of others to use.With choice being imposed on the company, the company has an excuse to compete right back at competitors.Who will lose?Apple will not be blind to this, but support for external payment systems on its platforms remains very new and is only visible in a small number of markets. Given thepotential risks of fraud and worse, it makes sense for Apple (and everyone else) to take a wait-and-see approach to extending this openness to new markets. It is just good practice to monitor what scams, frauds, and other attacks will emerge as third-party services are used on iOS in the EU. Its not inconceivable that part of Apples reluctance to open up more widely yet (other than the money) is a desire to assess the perils and pitfalls of doing so a trial in which Apples European customers are thecrash test dummies.But regulators dont seem terribly keen to wait and see. Regulators in India, Brazil, UK, US, Japan, South Korea, and elsewhere now seem to agree that Apple must lift restrictions on payment methods for in-app purchases. Its going to happen in the end.What price platform integrity?Even then, another problem Apple faces in that is that each nation could demand slightly different approaches to lifting those restrictions. The problem is that there is a development and infrastructure support cost, not to mention legal expenses, to each of those dictated approaches. What that means is that the less harmonious Apple lets payments on iOS become, the higher the cost of business.To avoid weakening the platform with a thousand cuts, it just makes more sense to lift the restrictions internationally, while also putting in place firm safeguards that permit Apple to swiftly remove any payment services identified as fraudulent or lax in security from its platforms.Now, Im on the record arguing that I think there is avery high probabilitythat once payment systems in apps are opened up this way we will see fraud, identity theft, and other forms of financial crime affect against Apples so-far highly secure platform. I think thats inevitable.Consumers will be damaged, and in the case of those using non-Apple payment services or app stores they cannot expect to get support from Apple. They may have accessed a non-Apple service on an Apple device, but the exchange will be between them and the service, not them and Apple. There will be confusion and broken hearts. This is what will happen.Managed declineBut Apple can manage the experience and focus on showing the many ways it offers a better and safer system to use. It also means bowing to the inevitable and building something that satisfies regulators enough that they dont choose to force Apple to build a system that dilutes its own platform.So, why has Apple resisted so much?Perhaps because it knows there are other criticisms reaching the anti-trust runway. Perhaps it feels that it makes sense to put up a fight on this particular hill in order to give it time to shore up better defenses on the other hills it currently holds.All the same, the judgment coming out of Brazil suggests the company is running out of time to prepare for other battles, and now might be time to concede on this particular point. Despite which, if I were in Apple (or a regulators) shoes, Id still try to delay any such move until the first casualties from the European experiment are identified and lessons learned.You can follow me on social media! Join me onBlueSky, LinkedIn,Mastodon, andMeWe.

In this exclusive webcast, we delve into the transformative potential of portable microservices for the deployment of generative AI models. We explore how startups and large organizations are leveraging this technology to streamline generative AI deployment, enhance customer service, and drive innovation across domains, including chatbots, document analysis, and video generation.WATCH NOWOur discussion focuses on overcoming key challenges such as deployment complexity, security, and cost management. We also discuss how microservices can help executives realize business value with generative AI while maintaining control over data and intellectual property.WATCH NOW

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.The way we measure progress in AI is terribleEvery time a new AI model is released, its typically touted as acing its performance against a series of benchmarks. OpenAIs GPT-4o, for example, was launched in May with a compilation of results that showed its performance topping every other AI companys latest model in several tests.The problem is that these benchmarks are poorly designed, the results hard to replicate, and the metrics they use are frequently arbitrary, according to new research. That matters because AI models scores against these benchmarks determine the level of scrutiny they receive.AI companies frequently cite benchmarks as testament to a new models success, and those benchmarks already form part of some governments plans for regulating AI. But right now, they might not be good enough to use that wayand researchers have some ideas for how they should be improved.Scott J MulliganWe need to start wrestling with the ethics of AI agentsGenerative AI models have become remarkably good at conversing with us, and creating images, videos, and music for us, but theyre not all that good at doing things for us.AI agents promise to change that. Last week researchers published a new paper explaining how they trained simulation agents to replicate 1,000 peoples personalities with stunning accuracy.AI models that mimic you could go out and act on your behalf in the near future. If such tools become cheap and easy to build, it will raise lots of new ethical concerns, but two in particular stand out. Read the full story.James ODonnellThis story is from The Algorithm, our weekly AI newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday.The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 Donald Trump has pledged special tariffs for China, Canada and MexicoHe says its to prevent drug trafficking and illegal migration into the US. (WP $)+ The tariffs are bad news for Chinese EV firm BYDs planned factory in Mexico. (WSJ $)+ How Trumps tariffs could drive up the cost of batteries, EVs, and more. (MIT Technology Review)2 Maternal doctors are leaving TexasAbortion restrictions make it much harder to administer miscarriage care. (New Yorker $)+ Porsha Ngumezi is the third woman known to have died under the states ban. (ProPublica)3 Bluesky has been accused of breaching EU data rulesIts failed to declare how many EU users it has and where its legally based. (FT $)+ Bluesky says its working to comply with the disclosure rules. (The Information $)4 How Amazon plans to take on NvidiaIts engineers are racing to get its AI chips running reliably in data centers by the end of the year. (Bloomberg $)+ Whats next in chips. (MIT Technology Review)5 Neuralink will test whether its brain implant can control a robotic armIf it can, itll be the first wireless brain-computer interface to do so. (Wired $)+ Meet the other companies developing brain-computer interfaces. (MIT Technology Review)6 Your Pokmon Go data could be bought by militaries and governmentsParent company Niantic hasnt ruled it out. (404 Media)7 Inside Googles little-known nuclear energy research groupIts quietly been seeking to further our understanding of nuclear energy for years. (IEEE Spectrum)+ Why the lifetime of nuclear plants is getting longer. (MIT Technology Review)8 US farms desperately need fresh waterNew desalination projects could help make abundant saltwater more plant-friendly. (Knowable Magazine)+ How we drained California dry. (MIT Technology Review)9 Nvidias new AI model creates entirely new sounds Including a screaming saxophone and an angry cello. (Ars Technica)+ These impossible instruments could change the future of music. (MIT Technology Review)10 We may finally know what causes mysterious radio flashes from spaceAsteroids and comets bashing into neutron stars could be behind them. (New Scientist $)Quote of the dayDid we change Big Tech? My answer is no.Tommaso Valletti, an economist who worked under the European Unions antitrust regulator Margrethe Vestager, reflects on her legacy as she prepares to step down to the New York Times.The big storyHow to fix the internetOctober 2023Were in a very strange moment for the internet. We all know its broken. But theres a sense that things are about to change. The stranglehold that the big social platforms have had on us for the last decade is weakening.Theres a sort of common wisdom that the internet is irredeemably bad. That social platforms, hungry to profit off your data, opened a Pandoras box that cannot be closed.But the internet has also provided a haven for marginalized groups and a place for support. It offers information at times of crisis. It can connect you with long-lost friends. It can make you laugh.The internet is worth fighting for because despite all the misery, theres still so much good to be found there. And yet, fixing online discourse is the definition of a hard problem. But dont worry. I have an idea. Read the full story.Katie NotopoulosWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet em at me.)+ America is super into republishing classic literature these days.+ Im convinced theres nothing more innovative and daring than a hungry cat (thanks Dorothy!)+ Gen Z famously loves to mock the way millennials dress, but needless to say: weve had the last laugh.+ How music influences math, believe it or not.