Author: user

from the what-free-speech? dept

Elon Musk has once again threatened to sue for a speech he didn’t like – this time, over headlines about a deadly explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck. But not liking how the story is framed does not constitute defamation. For a statement to be defamatory, it must be false, defamatory, and published with “reckless disregard for the truth” (effectively meaning “knowing it is false when you decide to publish it”). None of this applies here.

Poor portrayal, or factual framing that some feel is “misleading” is not defamation.

Musk’s legal threats over the title are not only pointless, they’re dangerous. They show a disregard for freedom of speech and an attempt to intimidate the press. And unfortunately, they are not the only ones pushing this censorial theory.

Back in 2020, you may remember that we criticized Larry Lessig for trying to make what he called “Clickbait Defamation” a thing. The argument is that correct headlines framed to reflect what is perceived to be unfair should be considered defamatory. That, of course, is not how true slander works. Lessig eventually dropped his lawsuit after the NY Times changed the headline he didn’t like, but it appears that others are now picking up on this theory, with Elon Musk leading the charge.

As you may have heard, yesterday, a US Army special forces operations sergeant allegedly drove a rented Tesla Cybertruck loaded with explosives/fireworks in the bed, and parked it in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, where there were explosives in the trunk. then exploded, killing the driver and injuring several bystanders.

As with many news stories, the details of the story are not known at first, with the main facts at first being (1) the Trump Hotel in Vegas, (2) the Tesla Cybertruck, and (3) the explosion.

Since there have been so many stories in the past year about Cybertrucks catching fire, including one just a few days ago, many people thought this was just another incident. Another, noting the close relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk suggests that the image of the Cybertruck burning in front of the Trump Hotel could be used as a metaphor for world news, but also suggests something more deliberate. Investigators are still working on the details.

But, either way, the inclusion of Cybertruck and the explosion in the title is factual. However, Elon Musk suggests that he can claim the title:

But, for there in fact defamation, there must be a false statement of fact (and, possibly, published knowing or previously suspecting that it is false). Nothing in the headline: “Tesla Cybertruck explosion in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas leaves 1 dead, 7 injured” is fake. It’s all factual.

Senator Mike Lee, who once presented himself as a supporter of free speech and the First Amendment, also jumped into the fray suggesting the NYT v. Sullivan had to fall, allowing Musk to claim the same headlines:

I mean, first of all, Elon Musk wasn’t mentioned, so it’s hard to say that this would be defamation of Elon. Second, this is the original AP headline, right after the event happened, when most everyone knows: The Cybertruck actually caught fire outside the Trump Hotel. It was not known at the time that the bed was full of explosives.

But also, everything in there is real.

And, yes, you can argue that the framing is ultimately misleading or even unfair. But free speech methods work. There are many titles that people feel are wrong or unfair. I called him out, and I also got accused of misleading the title. That’s how free speech works. Sometimes people don’t like the way other people make things or headlines.

But there is no slander.

Indeed, if Mike Lee is so concerned about the use of the passive voice in headlines, when are we going to see him claim that the traditional passive voice “police-involved shooting” is also defamatory?

Some may argue (and some people shouted at me on Bluesky about this!) that other incidents involving cars, including the attack in New Orleans on the same day, did not focus on the car model involved (Ford F-). 150 Lightning, if you were wondering).

But that’s understandable. Again, before anyone knew the details of what happened in Vegas, all they knew were three simple facts reported in the headlines. Furthermore, the make and model of the car is very good in this story because of Musk’s close association with Trump, which certainly suggests that there is a relationship to be told.

That was not true in the New Orleans case (although some news stories talked about the Ford truck and how heavy it was, it probably caused the damage).

Either way, it’s another case of so-called “free speech absolutist” Elon Musk appearing to threaten legal action over speech he doesn’t like, which isn’t in the same zip code as defamation.

Whether or not they actually demand it, it shows an attitude of intimidation: if you don’t cover the story in a way that makes me look good, I can sue you and drag you into costly and resource-intensive lawsuits, no matter how preposterous the claims may be.

Real free speech means that public figures, like Elon Musk, need to have a thicker skin. They need to understand that not everyone is going to publish something that pleases them, and sometimes you just have to suck it up and take it. Or use the fact that you have one of the biggest megaphones in the world to… use your own voice to respond. Instead of threatening legal recourse. That’s how free speech works.

This is also why we need stronger anti-SLAPP laws in every state and federal anti-SLAPP laws. Because we know that the rich and powerful have no problem blaming the judicial system for burdening the media with a fun SLAPP suit as a form of intimidation.

Filed Under: 1st amendment, clickbait defamation, defamation, donald trump, elon musk, framing, free speech, las vegas, lawsuits, mike lee

Company: Tesla

Samsung is the first major smartphone vendor to launch a flagship phone with AI at the core of its marketing efforts. Last year’s Galaxy S24 series introduced the Galaxy AI suite of features. Samsung followed up with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, which got additional AI capabilities. Samsung later extended Galaxy AI support to older flagship devices. And in a few weeks, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S25 series, which should introduce more Galaxy AI innovations.

But Samsung’s leadership is worse than its AI program in terms of Samsung’s global role in genAI. In their New Year’s speech, Samsung Electronics CEO and Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee and DS Division Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun talked about Galaxy AI, saying that Samsung should be the undisputed leader of AI devices this year.

“Now is the time for bold innovation that goes beyond existing methods of success because we are facing an inflection point in AI technology,” the executive said, according to a machine-translated Samsung release. “Let’s become the clear device AI leader this year through advanced intelligence.”

His goal of becoming the undisputed leader of AI is noble. Here’s what key executives are hoping for ahead of a busy year in which AI will continue to dominate the tech world. This can also be said by officials at other leading technology companies, as AI is a top priority today.

But Samsung is nowhere near the AI ​​leader, and I don’t see that happening in 2025. The main problem with Samsung’s Galaxy AI approach is that it doesn’t have a useful model to power the genAI technology in phones like the Galaxy S24 and S25.

Galaxy AI is a blend of AI technologies. Google Circle to Search is a good example. In addition, the Galaxy S25 phone is rumored to come with free Google Gemini Advanced, the best version of Google Gemini AI.

I will also point out that Samsung’s upcoming XR device, Project Moohan and the unnamed AR smart glasses, will work on Google’s Android XR platform, with Gemini playing a key role. I expect Galaxy AI to be part of the picture for both types of products because Samsung can’t do its own AI.

Samsung has no alternative to ChatGPT or Gemini. If they are working on upgrading Bixby and Gauss, matching this AI model will take a long time.

Also, Samsung has no desktop presence. ChatGPT is my main AI tool now, and I use it across devices. Most of the time, I access it on my Mac instead of my cell phone.

OpenAI and Google have better models. Meta, Claude, and Microsoft also have more advanced AI tools than Samsung. Apple is working on Siri LLM which will act like ChatGPT and has integrated ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence on the iPhone.

As for AI on devices, Samsung may be the first to push AI on mobile devices with Galaxy AI, but it’s not the only one. Google does it with Pixel phones and Android in general. Apple presented a better vision of AI in devices with Apple Intelligence this year, which Samsung can’t seem to match.

Apple Intelligence may be behind the Galaxy AI and other competitors, but Apple has a rival it can’t match: the base of devices that can use Apple Intelligence, and the list is growing fast. Once Apple Intelligence matures, Apple can become the undisputed leader in device AI.

Speaking of Apple’s AI vision, Samsung has yet to match what Apple wants with the iPhone. It’s not just about summarizing text and notifications, creating text, creating wallpapers, editing photos, and translating. About Siri becomes a more useful assistant by accessing contextual information on the device about the user.

Apple has a plan, at least; one that Samsung can follow. Samsung’s Galaxy AI teaser during the Fold 6 and Flip 6 launch event shows that the company is working on the same vision. But Samsung is waiting for Apple Intelligence to reveal it before revealing its own plans.

I will also point out that Apple Intelligence is designed to offer AI features on devices and better privacy for cloud-based AI than Galaxy AI. Turn off Galaxy AI on your current phone, and you’ll lose a lot of useful features. Samsung has yet to match Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, a private cloud-based AI system.

My point is that it will take years for any company to become the undisputed leader in AI tools. If that happens. And it’s still too early for Samsung to call the shots, especially since it’s so dependent on partners like Google.

Also, let’s say Samsung executives just want the company to sell a lot of products that can run third-party AI programs on the Galaxy AI. In that case, that still doesn’t qualify as the undisputed leader of AI devices.

from the this-why-we-can’t-have-good dept

Another day, another major privacy scandal that never goes away.

Healthcare giant Ascension – which owns 140 hospitals and assisted living facilities – said the May cyber attack compromised sensitive data on more than 5.6 million patients.

According to a filing with the Maine Attorney General and a Dec. 19 post to Ascension’s website, the attack occurred in May, but Ascension only intended to inform the victims six months later. Compromised data includes names, social security numbers, addresses, sensitive health information, Medicare/Medicaid data, payment information, and more.

But don’t worry, Ascension offers users a standard “free credit monitor” today:

“Ascension is currently in the process of notifying affected individuals. The organization also offers two years of credit and fraud monitoring, a $1 million insurance reimbursement policy, and managed ID theft recovery services. These services became effective last Thursday.

I have been involved in so many hacks that I have actually lost a company that is now giving me a free credit report for a year. Often from credit reporting companies that also cannot secure their own networks and systems.

There are a lot of moving parts here. For-profit health care systems routinely weaken their cybersecurity, creating a field day for ransomware attackers. Lax antitrust reforms mean that healthcare giants typically prioritize unprofitable giant mergers that divert attention from cybersecurity (and healthcare). Then of course you have a country that is too corrupt to enforce privacy laws.

These scandals continue to occur because companies and executives do not see the real consequences of failing to properly invest in security infrastructure. When there is regulatory action for lax privacy, it comes in the form of piddly wrist slap fines that are often litigated down to the pittance.

The corner-cutting required to generate unsustainable and unrestricted quarterly growth to Wall Street routinely has cannibalistic effects on public safety and product quality. This “enshittification” is especially problematic when it comes to health care.

Since the Supreme Court has effectively neutered the independence of most regulators, and with Congress too destructive to pass even basic privacy laws for the Internet era, you can expect nothing to change anytime soon. At least not until there is a massive, deadly, or high-profile privacy breach that finally shakes the country from its corrupt apathy.

At that point, America’s biggest companies will get together to write a meaningless modern privacy law focused primarily on legalizing incompetence, and making life more difficult for smaller competitors.

Filed Under: cyberattack, enshittification, hacked, health, privacy, ransomware, security

Company: up

The iPhone 17 will be the most important product that Apple ships in 2025, and we already have some exciting rumors about the series. First, the iPhone 17 Air will be Apple’s thinnest iPhone in years. The base iPhone 17 variant will get a 120Hz display, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get a smaller Dynamic Island Face ID. That’s if all the rumors are now true.

But Apple is also working on iPhone innovation for the next generation. A leak from Asia claims that Apple’s component suppliers have now developed components that could be used in future iPhone generations. The insider mentions a foldable display and a Face ID component that could help Apple reduce the footprint of its 3D facial recognition system.

Weibo users Digital Chat Stationknown for various accurate leaks in the past, sent an update that mentions some components for iPhone models that Apple can use.

A machine translation of the post reveals that Apple’s supply chain is developing a multi-folding periscope lens, a variable aperture main camera, a foldable screen, and miniature ToF (Time of Flight) technology for Face ID.

While the leaker didn’t mention a specific iPhone model that the innovation could be implemented on, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen such a claim.

The foldable screen may be related to the foldable iPhone Apple is expected to launch in 2026. A main camera with a variable aperture will be in the works for next year’s iPhone 18. A new report also says that the main camera will get lenses from Samsung instead of Sony.

The smaller ToF component for the Face ID system may be related to previous rumors that Apple wants to shrink the Dynamic Island and turn it into a round hole in the coming years. The Face ID component will move below the screen, while the selfie camera will still be visible through the OLED panel.

The transition to a smaller Dynamic Island could begin this year with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Premium phones must have metalens optics for the Face ID system on Dynmic Island. The pill-shaped cutout will be smaller than the version Apple has been using since the iPhone 14 Pros.

The only iPhone component considered on the list of more surprising leaks is the multi-fold periscope lens. Apple uses a tetraprism zoom lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro models. Apple will want to improve the digital zoom experience in future models by using more complex prisms to bend light.

It’s unclear which iPhone model will introduce the next-generation zoom camera. But if the parts supplier has sent Apple samples for prototype testing, it should happen in the not-too-distant future.

That assumes Apple likes the component and is moving forward with the feature. iPhone manufacturers tested all their ideas for headsets, but not all of them were promoted as commercial products. For some leaks, it can be delayed.

Over the years, Apple has released new iPhone colors in the spring. While it bucked that trend last year with the iPhone 15 lineup, it’s possible that the company will be preparing a new iPhone 16 option for customers this spring.

While we haven’t heard from reliable sources that Cupertino will offer new iPhone 16 colors this spring, previous rumors suggest that this could be part of Apple’s plans. For example, Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, which is often more accurate than not, predicted that Apple will release seven new colors for the iPhone 16 series. However, the company chose only five colors:

• Ultramarine
• Teal
• Pink
• White
• black

This color was also reported by X user Sonny Dickson, who is right about it. Still, Fixed Focus Digital suggests two other options:

Previously, Apple has offered iPhone models in this color, including the spring version of the autumn release. While the company once offered (PRODUCT) a RED iPhone model, it seems that this partnership will not be seen again for the iPhone 16 series.

That’s when Apple releases new iPhone colors in the spring

In the past five years, the company has tripled its new colors during spring. Also, Apple’s current iPhone 16 case at least makes us wonder how the new yellow iPhone will look with the current Star Fruit case option.

While we still have to wait a little longer to find out if Apple plans to update the iPhone 16 with a new spring color, we already know that the company has exciting plans for the beginning of 2025. We expect the new MacBook Air model, the anticipated iPhone. SE 4 (or iPhone 16E, as it’s called), AirTag 2, and more.

OpenAI held a big ChatGPT-centric event before Christmas, making some important announcements for ChatGPT and the other genAI tools it currently offers. ChatGPT o1 reasoning model and Sora text-to-video service get public release. OpenAI also showed o3 models coming this year, released Canvas, and even made ChatGPT available via WhatsApp SMS.

What OpenAI has failed to do is live up to the privacy promise it made earlier this year. The company announced the Media Manager feature back in May. The tool is intended to allow creators of all types of content to opt out of ChatGPT and other genAI model training.

OpenAI says Media Manager will be available in 2025, but that hasn’t happened yet. Not only that, but the company may not be actively working on the feature, and no one knows when it will come out.

Training models like ChatGPT require a lot of data so that AI can learn to predict what users need. OpenAI uses all kinds of data from the internet to train its AI, including copyrighted content from creators it doesn’t have access to. Some creators sued the company after discovering their work was being used to train AI.

Media Manager should be a tool that allows creators to opt out of training for all types of media content, not just written text. OpenAI describes Media Manager as a sophisticated tool to protect user privacy:

This requires cutting-edge machine learning research to create the first tools to help us identify copyrighted text, images, audio, and video across multiple sources and reflect the preferences of their creators.

While that sounds great on paper, we’ve all forgotten about it. OpenAI has not mentioned Media Manager since May, and the development of privacy tools may not have progressed. said TechCrunchwho spoke to people familiar with the project.

The blog has learned that Media Manager is rarely seen as an important job internally. A former employee of OpenAI told TechCrunch that the Media Manager is not a priority. “Honestly, I don’t remember who worked on it,” he said.

Also, someone who doesn’t work for OpenAI but coordinates work with an AI company said they discussed the tool with the company but haven’t received an update.

TechCrunch also noted that members of the OpenAI legal team involved in Media Manager are moving to part-time consultant roles.

None of this comes directly from OpenAI. Insiders sharing information may not have access to the bigger picture. But even so TechCrunch’s information is not accurate, there is still the fact that OpenAI has been silent on the Media Manager feature for half a year.

When it’s done, the privacy tool might be a “12 Days” announcement. At least OpenAI can update the timeline.

A more cynical view is that OpenAI is biding its time. A new report says that the training of the next generation version of ChatGPT is not working as planned. OpenAI saw a delay for GPT-5, and access to better training data could be one of the factors affecting its development. Copyrighted content that creates AI training data can be of better quality than other types of content. I’m just speculating here.

My guess is that the Media Manager tool might be released, maybe after the copyright lawsuit against OpenAI is over and the company knows exactly what it can and can’t do when training new AI models. Who knows if Media Manager might be needed if that happens. Also, the GPT-5 ChatGPT upgrade may be out of development and closer to release.

Finally, even if Media Manager is available, it still requires some work from creators to flag copyrighted content that doesn’t have to train AI. However, copyrighted content may be found everywhere on the internet where the creator would not have provided it. OpenAI will crawl the space and the content can still be a training dataset.

Media Manager late aside; Regular ChatGPT users have privacy settings at their disposal to opt out of having data in the directions that train the AI.

It’s 2025, but Apple’s website still says the major next-generation CarPlay update we’ve all been waiting for will arrive in 2024. While Apple clarified that robot vacuum support in the Home app has been delayed until “early next year,” which is now this year, it’s not completely similar to the CarPlay technology of the future.

Interestingly, after the company previewed this big CarPlay update a few years ago, it announced at the end of 2023 that the first car manufacturers are already working to support this new experience. In addition, Apple is known for clarifying delays. Over the past year, companies have announced plans for delayed products or features in the final days of those years. However, that is not the case for the introduction of the next generation CarPlay.

Last November, MacRumors found that the iOS 18.2 beta has redesigned the CarPlay icon while also finding an image submitted in the EU by Audi that shows how the next generation of CarPlay will look in the car.

However, Apple released iOS 18.2, and we didn’t get anything new with this CarPlay experience. At the end of 2023, Aston Martin and Porsche announced plans to use the next-generation CarPlay design in their cars. However, the automaker has not yet released a new vehicle that supports this feature.

In addition, Apple released some new features for the old CarPlay experience in iOS 18, such as:

• Announced Notification Support: Notifications Notifications can read aloud a summary of notifications when using AirPods or CarPlay.
• Spatial Audio: Drivers can now listen to Spatial Audio songs and albums available on Apple Music and third-party apps when connected to CarPlay. Vehicles with multichannel audio capabilities can enable immersive sound experiences. Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos is also possible in compatible vehicles.
• Accessibility: Color Filters, Bold Text, Voice Control, and Voice Recognition accessibility settings are now available in CarPlay in IOS 18, providing a consistent experience between iPhone and vehicle.

BGR will tell you when Apple updates its website, giving a new timeline for the next generation of CarPlay.

While you’re wrapping presents or spending time with friends and family at Christmas, hackers are busy looking for ways to steal your data. Reuters reported that several companies have seen Chrome browser extensions hijacked by cybercriminals in recent times, such as data protection company Cyberhaven on December 24.

“On December 24, a phishing attack compromised Cyberhaven employees’ credentials to the Google Chrome Web Store,” Cyberhaven CEO Howard Ting said on the company’s blog. “The attacker used these credentials to publish a version of our Chrome extension (version 24.10.4). Our security team detected this compromise at 11:54 PM UTC on December 25th and removed the malicious package within 60 minutes.

See more

Our team has confirmed a malicious cyber attack that occurred during Christmas, affecting the Cyberhaven Chrome extension. Here’s a post about the incident and the steps taken: https://t.co/VTBC73eWda

Our security team is available 24/7 to assist affected customers and…

— Cyberhaven (@CyberhavenInc) December 27, 2024

Ting said only Chrome-based browsers that automatically updated when the malicious code was active from 1:32 AM UTC on December 25 to 2:50 AM UTC on December 26 were affected. All users affected by the hack were notified by Cyberhaven on December 26, and the team has since released a secure version of the extension.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident for Chrome extensions.

Nudge Security co-founder Jaime Blasco tells us Reuters that hackers have hijacked other browser extensions, showing this is part of a larger attack. In X, Blasco pointed to several other extensions with malicious code found in the Chrome Web Store:

• Internxt VPN – Free, Encrypted & Unlimited VPN (10,000 users)
• VPNCity – Fast & Unlimited VPN | Unblocker (50,000 users)
• Uvoice (40,000 users)
• ParrotTalks (40,000 users)

Even that is just the tip of the iceberg. In a lengthy blog post that is still regularly updated, cybersecurity practitioner John Tuckner found more extensions containing known malicious code (via Computer Bleeps): Bookmark Favicon Changer, Castorus, Wayin AI, Search Copilot AI Assistant, VidHelper, Vidnoz Flex, TinaMind, Primus, AI Shop Buddy, Sort by Oldest, Earny, ChatGPT Assistant, Keyboard History Recorder, and Email Hunter.

If you use one of these extensions, you should check to see if they have been updated recently and if the developer is aware of this attack. Either way, you might want to reset all of your passwords if you think there’s a chance you’ve been compromised.

Here’s an idea for my friends in the media business who run news properties with reduced readership: You can always take a page from Meta, and just… increase your customer base with AI-generated users. I’m kidding, like, but that’s actually what Facebook and Instagram are going to do – specifically, they’re reportedly launching AI-generated accounts that will share content and interact with real human users, even if the accounts are bots. as real as the Easter Bunny.

To be honest, it confuses me whether this is a real idea, dreamed up by a human being, but it really is in the Meta life cycle. Bots will be the new influencers on Facebook and Instagram. “We expect this AI to actually, over time, be on our platform, in the same way as accounts,” said Connor Hayes, Meta’s vice president of product for generative AI, in an interview with Financial Times. “They’ll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share AI-powered content on the platform . . . that’s where we see all of this going.

Like every major tech company these days, parent Facebook is getting involved with AI – and to be honest, it’s launching or teasing some interesting offerings down the line that range from text bots like ChatGPT and a variety of video creation and photo editing. gear. That said, I can’t help but feel incredibly cynical about all these fake user ideas. Seriously, how about calling investors with analysts during a monthly earnings presentation, if this idea takes off? “It was another great quarter, with user engagement through the roof – and next quarter, we expect to add even more users.”

already- right now! – I see so much AI-generated slop on Instagram and Facebook that is another factor dampening the experience for me. It took me two seconds to come up with the various drawbacks to this idea of ​​AI-created user accounts, from the account causing misinformation to the AI ​​spreading propaganda, fake news, fraud, or even just nonsense that makes people want users. Facebook and Instagram are lacking.

To that last point, the only way I can use Facebook now without wanting to tear my hair out is to immediately ignore the main News Feed, which is overflowing with recommended posts that I don’t care about, and go to the “Feed” tab to check on the page that I have liked and people I connected. Imagine, users who (wait for it!) only want to follow things they like. I can hear the condescending laughter of Meta executives here, all the way from the company’s executive suite in California.

I am a long time MacBook user, and I have never felt the need to buy a Magic Mouse from Apple. It has nothing to do with the Lightning (now USB-C) port on the bottom. And, by the way, yes, it’s an annoying design decision, but the outrage is blown out of proportion here.

I really like the trackpad and use it in a way that I never did on my Windows PC before I moved from Windows. The only time I get a mouse is when I try to play a game on my Mac. Magic Mouse is not an option.

I know many people, especially professionals, work with certain workflows that require more precision than a trackpad can offer. Mouse Magic for buyers. They might be excited to get the next-generation Magic Mouse, which should be released in 2026 and feature a novel design and revamped charging port.

The strange thing about the Magic Mouse is that there are rumors that the wireless gadget will have support for voice commands. Yes, we are approaching the era of AI-first computing, where voice control and AI agents will help you manage your computer like never before. When Magic Mouse launches, Apple Intelligence may get more agent-like features, matching ChatGPT and Gemini.

But why would people talk to a mouse instead of a nearby computer or mobile device?

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman mentions voice control for the upcoming Magic Mouse in X, reiterating past coverage of unreleased products.

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The voice control on the new Magic Mouse I wrote about this month is a perfect match for AI — and the fact that Apple is in a decade-plus cycle. From what I’ve heard, the big focus is on ergonomics and movement (as well as USB-C being moved). I’m also looking forward to the new keyboard. https://t.co/FtUcR2Yqdj

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) December 30, 2024

He said that Apple’s main focus is on ergonomics and movement. Voice control will have something to do with AI.

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As @ChanceHMiller point out, the rumor making the rounds today is simply an incorrect back-and-forth translation of this line from my initial report: “In today’s computing world filled with touch screens, voice commands and hand gestures…”

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) December 30, 2024

Gurman responded to the rumor from a well-known Apple leak source from Korea. eyes1122 posted an update on it Navermentions the Magic Mouse redesign with a clear reference to Gurman’s previous coverage. There, the voice command feature for the next generation Magic Mouse reappears.

Again, I can’t imagine why I would want to give voice commands to a mouse or in what scenario the feature would work.

I saw telling the AI ​​to select an area on the screen, a collection of documents or files, and move it to a specific task. This will include mouse pointer movement. But this is a feature that will eventually work thanks to macOS’s built-in AI agents or third-party AI tools from OpenAI and Google. It doesn’t matter if you’re operating a Magic Mouse, a third-party mouse, or the MacBook’s built-in trackpad.

If Apple plans to launch an updated Magic Mouse in 2026, we will learn more about it next year. If real, the voice control feature should see more leaks.