Last month, Amazon introduced a few new discounts on the M5 MacBook Air and these deals have expanded this week, with every model of the new computer on sale at record low prices. You can get the 512GB 13-inch M5 MacBook Air for $949.00, down from $1,099.00, available in all colors.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You'll find $150 off every model of the M5 MacBook Air on Amazon, with free delivery around May 7-8 for most models. In terms of other 13-inch models, Amazon also has the 24GB/1TB model for $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00. Both of these represent a match for the record low prices for each configuration.
Regarding the 15-inch models, you'll also find $150 off the M5 MacBook Air, with multiple color options on sale for each configuration. Prices start at $1,149.00 for the 512GB model, down from $1,299.00, and also include both 1TB models on sale.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
The leaker "Instant Digital" today revisited their February design report on the foldable iPhone, claiming the device's internal design will make it the easiest-to-disassemble and easiest-to-repair foldable phone in the industry.
In a new post on Weibo, Instant Digital said the device's "incredibly rigorous underlying engineering logic" has "truly paid off," and predicted that teardown videos will vindicate the earlier claims once the device ships. The leaker described the internal component stacking as "logical yet elegant," and said the design eliminates the complex ribbon cable routing that typically complicates disassembly in competing foldables, achieving instead what they called "a truly high level of modularity."
The comments appear to be a callback to Instant Digital's February 2 report, which offered several design details about the foldable iPhone, including volume buttons relocated to the top edge of the device, Touch ID and Camera Control on the right side of the device, an iPhone Air-style camera plateau, a single punch-hole front-facing cameras, and just two color options. That report also touched on the device's internal design language, which the leaker now suggests is even more significant than readers initially appreciated.
At that time, Instant Digital explained that the device's motherboard is apparently located on the right side of the device. As to not run cables across the screen to the left side for the volume buttons (where they are located on all other iPhone models), Apple is said to have decided to run them directly upwards, which maximizes internal space.
The internal structure purportedly features an innovative stacked design, with the space being almost entirely dedicated to the display and battery. It is also said to feature the biggest battery ever used in an iPhone.
The foldable iPhone, rumored to be called the "iPhone Ultra," is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in the fall. The device is said to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover screen, the A20 chip and C2 modem, Touch ID, and two rear cameras.
Apple is expected to finalize OLED panel approvals for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max this month, with Samsung Display and LG Display likely to dominate panel supply, reports The Elec.
This year, China's BOE has reportedly been closed out of the premium tier supply chain, despite having landed some panel orders for the iPhone 17 Pro models.
The setback is said to be down to quality and yield issues with its lower-temperature polycrystalline oxide-plus (LTPO+) technology compared to its South Korean counterparts.
Indeed, it's the key upgrade at the center of the supply shake-up.
South Korean publication ETNewspreviously reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models will use LTPO+ display technology, which would likely be more power efficient than the current LTPO technology in the iPhone 17 series.
Such an upgrade could also contribute to longer battery life, since LPTO+ enables finer control of OLED light emission, potentially allowing the display to optimize its operation based on environmental conditions.
The ETNews report from January also mentioned that the iPhone 18 Pro models will use under-screen infrared technology from Samsung, which could enable some Face ID components to move under the display.
That could allow Apple to shrink the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro models -- but whether it will do is seemingly still up for debate. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro models in September.
New alleged CAD renders of Apple's iPhone 18 Pro are doing the rounds on social media, offering the latest twist in the to-shrink-or-not-to-shrink Dynamic Island saga.
An X user called @earlyappleleaks has posted the above image, claiming that "the new CAD confirms the smaller Dynamic Island of the iPhone 18 Pro."
CAD renders are often leaked from factories and represent the technical schematics that phone manufacturers share with case makers and accessory companies months before a phone launches. Whether this particular one is kosher is unknown, since the leaker is relatively new to the scene and needs time to build a reputation.
The last notable image they shared was of an alleged iPhone 18 Pro prototype with a smaller Dynamic Island, and what appears to be a Face ID sensor visible under the display. Under-display Face ID components would allow for a slimmed down Dynamic Island.
Over the past year, there have been mixed rumors about whether the iPhone 18 Pro models will continue to feature a Dynamic Island or have a hole punch camera with under screen Face ID and no Dynamic Island, but the latest information suggests it's too early to say goodbye to the Dynamic Island.
Along with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, several prominent leakers on Weibo and other social media sites have said Apple will make the iPhone 18 Pro's Dynamic Island smaller, but won't eliminate it. We heard similar rumors about a smaller iPhone 17 Pro Dynamic Island last year, but it ended up being the same size.
Most of the iPhone 18 Pro rumors about under-display Face ID and no Dynamic Island circulated earlier in 2025, so Apple either considered the feature for the 18 Pro lineup and pushed it back, or those rumors were off-base. There also may have been confusion over what's moving under the display and what isn't.
More recently, Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station claimed the iPhone 18 Pro won't have a smaller Dynamic Island at all, with the slimmed down Dynamic Island delayed until the iPhone 19.
We'll know for sure in a few months. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 18 Pro models alongside its first foldable iPhone this fall, with the standard iPhone 18 arriving early next year as part of a new split-cycle launch strategy.
Apple's iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone globally in the first quarter of 2026, capturing 6 percent of worldwide unit sales, according to Counterpoint Research's latest Global Handset Model Sales Tracker.
The iPhone 17 series dominated the top three spots, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max in second place and the iPhone 17 Pro in third. The previous-generation iPhone 16 also held on at sixth place, suggesting there's still strong demand for the model, following its blockbuster sales run throughout last year.
Counterpoint senior analyst Harshit Rastogi credited the iPhone 17's success to upgrades that brought the base model closer to the Pro variants, including higher 256GB base storage, improved cameras, and a faster 120Hz display refresh rate. Not only did the iPhone 17 post double-digit year-over-year growth in China and the U.S., it also tripled its sales in South Korea for the quarter.
Samsung's Galaxy A series filled the remaining five spots, led by the budget-friendly Galaxy A07 4G as the best-selling Android phone of the quarter. Xiaomi's Redmi A5 filled out the list in tenth place.
Taken together, the top 10 devices accounted for 25% of global smartphone sales -- the highest first-quarter concentration ever recorded, according to Counterpoint. In the meantime, the standard iPhone 17 is set to enjoy a six-month-longer flagship run than usual, with the iPhone 18 expected to see a launch in spring 2027.
ChatGPT's default model has been updated to GPT-5.5 Instant, a model that brings accuracy improvements with fewer hallucinations, especially in areas like medicine, law, and finance, according to OpenAI.
GPT-5.5 Instant is more capable at tasks like analyzing images, answering STEM questions, and choosing when to use web search to provide a better answer. Responses can also be personalized because GPT-5.5 Instant can better draw context from past chats, files, and Gmail, but this is currently limited to paid subscribers.
OpenAI says that responses are "tighter and more to-the-point without losing substance" and without eliminating ChatGPT's personality. It will provide the same information, but without unnecessary formatting, emojis, and follow-up questions.
All ChatGPT models are being updated with memory sources, which will show users the past chats, files, and other context that ChatGPT used to generate a response.
GPT-5.5 Instant is rolling out today to all ChatGPT users, and it is replacing GPT-5.3 Instant as the default model. While free users can access GPT-5.5 Instant, the new personalization features are limited to Plus and Pro users on the web. Personalization will expand to mobile soon, and it will roll out to Free, Go, Business, and Enterprise users in the coming weeks.
It's not yet clear when Apple Intelligence's ChatGPT integration will switch to GPT-5.5 Instant.
A smarter, Apple Intelligence version of Siri was shown off at WWDC 2024, and then promoted in ads and videos when the iPhone 16 launched in September 2024. After Apple delayed the Siri Apple Intelligence features in March 2025, Apple pulled its ads, but they had been running for several months at that point. The lawsuit claimed Apple violated consumer law by misleading consumers about the actual utility and performance of Apple Intelligence, and causing them to purchase a device "with features that did not exist or were materially misrepresented." Apple was not found guilty of any wrongdoing, and the company sometimes settles lawsuits to minimize legal fees and time spent on litigation. A settlement agreement was reached back in December, but the terms of the settlement are now live.
In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that resolved the lawsuit so that it could focus on its products and services, and reiterated that it has introduced multiple Apple Intelligence features since 2024.
Since the launch of Apple Intelligence, we have introduced dozens of features across many languages that are integrated across Apple's platforms, relevant to what users do every day, and built with privacy protections at every step. These include Visual Intelligence, Live Translation, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Clean Up and many more.
Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features. We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.
Apple's $250 million payment will provide U.S. Settlement Class Members who submit Claim Forms with a per-device payment of $25 for each eligible device, though that could increase up to $95 per device if claim volume is low.
Eligible devices include iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max models purchased between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.
The settlement has received preliminary approval, and notices to those eligible to make a claim will start to receive email notices no more than 45 days from today.
Apple has removed more desktop Macs from its online store as the global memory shortage continues. Mac mini models with 32GB and 64GB of RAM are no longer available for purchase, nor is the M3 Ultra Mac Studio with 256GB RAM.
The M3 Ultra Mac Studio is now available only in a 96GB RAM configuration, with higher-tier options eliminated. Both M3 Mac Studio and M4 Max Mac Studio models have delivery estimates of 9 to 10 weeks.
As for the Mac mini, the M4 Pro model now maxes out at 48GB of RAM, with customers no longer able to choose the 64GB option. The standard M4 Mac mini can only be purchased with 16GB or 24GB of RAM, because the 32GB option has been removed.
Last week, Apple removed the Mac mini with 256GB of SSD storage, leaving the 512GB model as the minimum option. That effectively raised the price of the Mac mini from $599 to $799. Apple also stopped accepting orders for some Mac Studio and Mac mini machines with higher amounts of RAM in March and April.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that the Mac mini and the Mac Studio are going to be hard to get for months to come. "We think, looking forward, that the Mac mini and Mac Studio may take several months to reach supply demand balance," Cook said.
According to Cook, Apple underestimated the demand for the Mac mini and the Mac Studio from customers looking for a machine to run AI and agentic tools locally. He said Apple also expects significantly higher memory costs in the months to come, so Apple is likely conserving supply by eliminating some configuration options. Global supply constraints caused by AI server demand have impacted the pricing of memory chips, leading to high prices and memory shortages.
Update: Article updated to note that the 32GB M4 Mac mini is also no longer available.
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Max 2. The firmware is version 8E258, up from the prior 8E251 firmware that was released just ahead of when the AirPods Max 2 launched.
It's not clear what's included in the firmware update, but Apple provides limited details in its AirPods firmware support document. Most updates focus on bug fixes and improvements.
The AirPods Max 2 have an H2 chip, an upgrade over the H1. The H2 brings several new features like Live Translation, Adaptive Audio, Loud Sound Reduction, Voice Isolation, and more.
To get the new firmware, make sure your AirPods are in range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and are connected via Bluetooth. From there, connect the Apple device to Wi-Fi, then connect the AirPods Max to power with a USB-C cable. Keep the AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of the Apple device, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.
From there, reconnect the AirPods to the Apple device, and check the firmware version to see if it's updated. Apple says if the firmware doesn't install, to restart the AirPods Max and try again.
Apple has signed a deal with Google and plans to use a Gemini-based model for Apple Intelligence and Siri features in iOS 27, but users will also be able to choose their favorite AI service as an alternative.
Apple has already partnered with OpenAI to make ChatGPT available in lieu of Apple's built-in options for Siri, Writing Tools, and Image Playground on iOS 26, but in Apple's upcoming software updates, other third-party chatbots like Claude and Gemini will also be available. Instead of being limited to ChatGPT, users will select their preferred AI service.
Users can choose any AI provider that adds support for Apple's new iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 "Extensions" feature. From Bloomberg:
"Extensions allow you to access generative AI capabilities from installed apps on demand, through Apple Intelligence features such as Siri, Writing Tools, Image Playground and more," according to a message shown in test versions of the software.
Apple also plans to let users choose voices from third-party AI services for Siri, which would make it clearer whether Siri or another AI product like Gemini is responding. Siri would use one voice, while responses from third-party AI options would use another voice.
Following a few steep discounts on the iPhone Air last month, we're now tracking a new all-time low price on the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery on Amazon. You can get the accessory for $59.99, down from $99.00, beating the previous low price by about $20.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is only compatible with the iPhone Air, and it can add up to 65 percent additional charge to the smartphone. The MagSafe Battery supports up to 12W of fast wireless charging, and it sports a thin and light design similar to the iPhone Air.
Apple heavily discounted the iPhone Air in both the United Kingdom and United States in late March and early April, providing as much as 30 percent off the device. There have been multiple reports regarding low sales for the iPhone Air, with one stating there is "virtually no demand" for the smartphone.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
In a letter sent to Apple's CEO Tim Cook and hardware engineering chief John Ternus this week, nine members of U.S. Congress from Maryland expressed "serious concern" regarding Apple's decision to close its unionized retail store in Towson, Maryland on June 20, without plans to open a replacement store within the Baltimore region.
Apple Towson Town Center
"We recognize that decisions of this scale involve complex business considerations," the lawmakers said. "However, we urge Apple to reconsider whether there are viable paths forward that would preserve jobs and maintain a retail presence in the region. Maryland residents value employers who invest in their workforce and demonstrate a sustained commitment to the communities they serve. We stand ready to engage constructively with Apple to better understand this decision and to explore potential solutions."
The letter was signed by nine of Maryland's lawmakers, including two senators and seven representatives, all from the Democratic Party. They said it was their understanding that Apple's store at the Towson Town Center has been in "a strong-performing location," but several local news reports have stated that the shopping mall is in decline and has lost major retailers like Tommy Bahama, Banana Republic, and Madewell.
In the letter, the lawmakers said the store's closure will "significantly affect" residents and small businesses across the Baltimore region, including approximately 90 employees. As a result, they asked for Apple to provide a clearer understanding of the rationale behind this decision, including whether alternatives such as relocating the store or other operational adjustments were meaningfully considered.
Last month, Apple announced that it will be permanently closing three retail stores in the U.S. in June, with the other two locations set to close beyond Apple Towson Town Center being Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut and Apple North County in Escondido, California. Apple said it made this difficult decision following the "departure of several retailers" and declining conditions" at all three of the shopping malls.
Notably, the staff at the Towson store became Apple's first retail employees in the U.S. to unionize in 2022. They belong to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE), and they signed a collective bargaining agreement with Apple in 2024.
Apple said employees at the Trumbull and North County stores will "continue their roles" at the company's nearby stores in each area, so transfer eligibility is guaranteed. Meanwhile, Apple said employees at the Towson store will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement, and it is unclear if everyone who applies will successfully secure a new position at the company.
Last month, the IAM union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), citing discriminatory treatment against unionized workers at the Towson store. Unlike workers at two other closing stores, Apple has not offered its unionized Towson employees the opportunity to transfer to other stores.
IAM said Apple not offering Towson employees the opportunity to transfer "raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union."
"We praise the Maryland congressional delegation for having these workers' backs and demanding answers from Apple," said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. "These workers made history by exercising their right to organize for a voice on the job. Walking away from them now sends a dangerous message to working people everywhere."
Apple has said it is simply respecting the terms of the bargaining agreement.
According to Apple, the contract that the union agreed to states that in the event of a store closure, Apple would transfer or rehire employees if the company opened a new store within 50 miles of the current location at Towson Town Center. In any other circumstance, the union negotiated for employees to receive severance. Apple has no current plans to open a new store in the area, but if it were to do so within the next 18 months, the affected employees would have the right of first refusal.
"We strongly disagree with the claims made, and we will continue to abide by the agreement that was negotiated and agreed with the union," an Apple spokesperson said. "We look forward to presenting all of the facts to the NLRB."
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
The iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly carry over the same anodized aluminum finish introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, despite concerns from some users about its durability.
According to the Weibo leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital," surface chipping on the iPhone 17 Pro has become a common complaint, and that users who have sought recourse from Apple have been told they cannot claim it, with the company classifying the issue as an inherent characteristic of the aluminum alloy material and normal wear and tear. Crucially, they added that the iPhone 18 Pro will "continue to utilize this same design approach" despite its weaknesses.
The iPhone 17 Pro moved away from the titanium frames Apple used in its Pro lineup for the previous two years, adopting an anodized aluminum unibody design. Surface durability concerns surfaced almost immediately after launch.
Reports suggested that Dark Blue and Cosmic Orange models appeared to scratch more easily than other finishes, with MacRumors forum users describing visible marks on in-store display units within days of availability. A scratch test by YouTuber JerryRigEverything added some nuance, finding that most of the anodized shell holds up well against everyday items like keys and coins, but pinpointing the camera plateau as a clear weak point where the raised, unchamfered edges chip and scratch easily.
A separate issue emerged the following month, when a number of Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro owners reported color shift, with the aluminum frame and camera plateau drifting toward a rose-gold or pink hue and in some cases prompting device replacements by Apple Support.
Rumors point to four color options for the iPhone 18 Pro models: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. Dark Cherry is expected to serve as the signature new color, described as a deep, wine-like red that is considerably more muted than last year's Cosmic Orange. The iPhone 18 Pro is not expected to offer a black option for the second consecutive year, but the rumored gray option could come close.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be announced in September 2026, alongside the first foldable iPhone.
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform.
Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say the feature would no longer be available for direct messages between users from May 8.
With end-to-end encryption enabled, the contents of messages are protected from the moment they leave the sender's device to the moment they reach the receiver's device. In other words, nobody, including Meta, can see what is sent. When May 8 rolls around, that extra layer of security will be removed.
On its help page, Instagram says users that are affected by the change will see instructions in the app on how they can download any media or messages that they may want to keep. However, the company hasn't explained why encrypted chats must be downloaded before the cutoff date or what will happen to them afterwards.
In March, a spokesperson for Meta told The Guardian that the decision to abandon encryption was due to low uptake. "Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we're removing this option from Instagram in the coming months," the spokesperson said. "Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp."
Meta has come under sustained pressure over the years from law enforcement and child safety groups to remove encryption, but there's likely more to it than that. With Meta able to see messages between users, it could potentially run advertising algorithms or train chatbots on their contents.
It's an odd twist for a company who in 2019 aggressively promoted tightening encryption standards on its social media and messaging apps. As things stand, end-to-end encryption for group Facebook Messenger chats remains opt-in, while it continues to be the default setting for all WhatsApp conversations and calls.
watchOS 26.5 fixes two Apple Watch bugs, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week.
Apple fixed bugs in the Messages and Workout apps:
• Fixes an issue where Messages on Apple Watch may use SMS instead of iMessage when paired with a dual SIM iPhone • Fixes an issue where Workout app audio alerts could fail to play if the phone was not nearby Apple Watch
The notes also mention the new Pride Luminance watch face available on watchOS 26.5. The watch face has a customizable layout and colors.
iOS 26.5 includes three new features for iPhones, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week.
As discovered during beta testing, iOS 26.5 enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices. Apple says this security upgrade is limited to supported carriers around the world and will continue to roll out.
End-to-end encryption for RCS is a security layer that ensures that messages sent between supported iOS and Android devices are encrypted and cannot be intercepted and read by Apple or any third party while they are being delivered. Keep in mind that text messages sent via the older SMS standard still lack end-to-end encryption.
iMessage conversations with blue bubbles have already been end-to-end encrypted since iOS 5.
Similar to the ads that are already shown in App Store search results on the iPhone and iPad, ads in Apple Maps will have an "Ad" label, and Apple promises strong privacy protections. For example, Apple says a user's location and the ads they see and interact with in Apple Maps are not associated with a user's Apple Account.
Third, a new Pride Luminance wallpaper that "dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors" is available to download on iPhones and iPads running iOS 26.5 or iPadOS 26.5. Released alongside a new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch face, Apple says the wallpaper celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world.
Here are Apple's full release notes for iOS 26.5:
This update includes the following enhancements: • End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging (beta) in Messages is available with supported carriers and will roll out over time • Pride Luminance wallpaper that dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors, is available for download • Suggested Places in Maps displays recommendations based on what's trending nearby and your recent searches
This year, Mother's Day lands on Sunday, May 10, and we're tracking quite a few offers from some of the best Apple-related accessory companies, as well as steep discounts on Apple products at Amazon.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple Deals
There are numerous Apple discounts on Amazon this week, with all-time low prices on AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Max 2, iPad, iPad Air, and MacBook Air. Most of these still have free delivery dates before Mother's Day, but be sure to order soon to ensure arrival before Sunday.
In other deals, we're tracking a big collection of Mother's Day sales from retailers like Best Buy, Belkin, ZAGG/Mophie, Verizon, and more. This year you can save 25 percent on OtterBox accessories sitewide, up to 30 percent on Belkin charging devices, and up to 40 percent on Anker products.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple this week held the inaugural Spring Forum for its Manufacturing Academy in East Lansing, Michigan, gathering hundreds of U.S. manufacturers at Michigan State University to demonstrate how businesses are applying AI techniques learned through the program.
The event was the academy's largest to date. Offsite tours formed a central part of the program, with Block Imaging, a Michigan company that services and refurbishes medical imaging equipment including CT scanners and MRI machines, hosting attendees at its facility to show how it has put the academy's training to use on the factory floor. Other stops included the MSU Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and Peckham.
On-campus sessions featured speakers from McKinsey, Magna, LightGuide, and Medtronic on topics including physical AI in manufacturing and the challenges of scaling AI solutions. A poster session closed the day, featuring MSU students and small- and medium-sized business participants.
Priya Balasubramaniam, Apple's vice president of Product Operations, spoke at the forum and took part in a fireside chat with Michigan State University president Kevin M. Guskiewicz, covering AI's impact on manufacturing operations and the skills workers will need in an AI-enabled economy. Block Imaging's director of Technical Training, Katie Runyon, said the program had produced tangible results for her team:
The Apple Manufacturing Academy has had a direct impact on how we operate. The training we've received from Apple engineers and Michigan State experts has given our team practical tools and techniques we've been able to apply immediately on the floor, improving the way we work and the quality of what we deliver to healthcare providers. We keep coming back because the program continues to push us forward.
Launched last year as part of Apple's $500 billion U.S. investment commitment, the Manufacturing Academy is a free program pairing Apple engineers and MSU experts with small- and medium-sized businesses to help them implement AI and smart manufacturing techniques. It is the only such academy in North America and is open to businesses nationwide. To date, it has supported more than 150 companies through dozens of in-person training sessions, and recently added virtual programming.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple Towson Town Center
