GPT-5 is coming to Apple Intelligence. Soon
Last week, OpenAI debuted GPT-5, supposedly delivering one of the biggest updates to the model’s overall speed and usability while (briefly) mourning the loss of GPT-4o. The question on some Apple users’ minds now is when ChatGPT integration with Apple Intelligence will bring the model’s new smarts to play.
Soon, apparently. According to Apple (via 9to5mac), the company expects its devices to catch up shortly. As it stands, the iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS 2 versions utilise GPT-4o when using the ChatGPT add-on on top of the native Apple model.
Apple reckons that GPT-5 will be added alongside the release of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26. That may seem like an update that’s years in the making, but don’t forget: Apple recently announced that it would be renaming all of its OS efforts in a bid to make a more cohesive entity. These updates are expected to arrive as soon as September, when Apple unveils the iPhone 17.
Apple also noted that it would open up its on-device foundation to developers, allowing more apps to take advantage of the artificially ‘intelligent’ features their devices are capable of, without being forced to huddle around Apple’s less-than-interesting AI playground.
Ready your nails: The Xbox ROG Ally is almost upon us
Remember when we got all excited about Xbox bringing a Hollow Knight: Silksong demo to this year’s Gamescom showing, effectively ending the years-long silence from Team Cherry? Now, imagine how excited we were to learn that the indie metroidvania would be out on or before 16 October.
Bilbil-Kun, a known quantity in the leaker community who has proven reliable in the past, didn’t technically say as much, noting instead that Microsoft’s ‘new’ ROG Xbox Ally handheld devices would be released on 16 October, and not at Gamescom, as some had speculated.
Considering Microsoft itself stated that the eagerly anticipated Silksong would be available on the new gaming handheld when it eventually launched, we finally have a solid release window, even if Team Cherry is still holding the release date close to its chest. Just a few more sacrifices on r/Silksong should crack it, right?
Even if Microsoft doesn’t have any shadow-drop plans for the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds at Gamescom next week, it’s expected to open pre-orders for the devices at the four-day event and finally reveal to the public the reportedly bonkers price for the two new consoles.
Steam for Chromebooks is dead. Anyways…
That ChromeOS Steam beta never did get much traction. What ChromeOS Steam beta? Exactly. After spending the better part of three years trying to get it right, the Steam for Chromebooks initiative is being shelved as of 1 January 2026. Fear not. There’s nothing stopping you from “gaming” on your Chromebook until then, assuming your device can support it.
While still possible, entering Steam on a ChromeOS device will hit you with the below message:
“The Steam for Chromebook Beta program will conclude on January 1st, 2026. After this date, games installed as part of the Beta will no longer be available to play on your device. We appreciate your participation in and contribution to learnings from the beta program, which will inform the future of Chromebook gaming.”
Steam for Chromebooks originally launched in 2022 as an alpha test on a small handful of devices before being bumped up to beta a few months later, with significantly reduced hardware requirements in place. With only 99 games supported, even all these years later, Steam for Chromebooks remains in beta. Google hasn’t stated why the program is being scrapped, but with generally low usage and increasing hardware limitations, it seems the writing was on the wall from the very beginning.
The Girl with an AirPods Max
Life imitates art (or something like that), and nowhere is that more clear than in Casetify’s new mind-boggling ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring Collectible Headphone Cover™’, which will have you and your very expensive AirPods Max headphones looking like Johannes Vermeer’s most famous painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring. That’s the idea, anyway. Whether it’ll work out… remains to be seen.
It’ll do so by selling you two bits of a “silk-like textile” and a singular pearl earring that wraps around the AirPods Max’s earcups, according to Designboom, meant to mimic the titular girl found in Vermeer’s painting when worn. It’s an absurdly out-there product, and one we can only expect to be picked up by the ultra-rich (or ultra-stupid) looking for an over-the-top gag gift. We think. It’s already sold out on Casetify’s store.
The listing specifically notes that “this product is not covered by no questions asked return or exchange policy and product warranty,” meaning you’ll need to explain why you thought purchasing a $200 (∼R3,500) bit of “silk-like textile” was a good idea when attempting to get your money back.
