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Apple is lining up a Siri upgrade that could blend its own AI with Google’s Gemini, timed for the iPhone 17 in 2026. At the same time, Switzerland unveiled Apertus, a $45M open-source model built for trust and sovereignty. Meanwhile, Anker revealed a coin-sized recorder with 97% AI transcription, and Google Photos added Veo 3 to turn still shots into moving clips.

AI is now reshaping assistants, nations, gadgets, and creativity.

In today’s AI Pulse

• 🌎 RemoFirst – Hire globally. Zero hassle.

• 🍏 Apple Tests Gemini for Siri – Rumored iOS 26.4 may bring web answers powered by Gemini.

• 🏦 Switzerland Debuts Apertus – $45M open-source AI model built for trust and sovereignty.

• 📱 Anker Launches Mini Recorder – $99 coin-sized gadget offers 97% AI transcription accuracy.

• 🎬 Google Photos Adds Veo 3 – New tool turns still shots into moving video clips in seconds.

• ☕ Morning Brew – Business news, but fun.

• 🧠 AI Tool of the Day – Office Timeline: Transform PowerPoint with Free Timelines & Gantt Charts!

• ⚡ Quick Hits – IN AI TODAY

• 🛠️ Tool to Sharpen Your Skills  – 🎓Business Case Specialist Masterclass

• 🧠 Key Quote | Diane Ackerman | Author & Naturalist

AI is now helping Siri, giving countries their own models, making tiny recorders smarter, and turning photos into videos — all at once.

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🍏 Apple Rumored to Use Google Gemini’s AI

🧠The Pulse

Apple is planning a big change for Siri. A new rumor says Siri will soon use Apple’s own AI together with Google’s Gemini to search the web and deliver quick summaries. If this happens, Siri could finally compete again with ChatGPT and other popular AI assistants.

📌The Download

• Apple is working on a project called World Knowledge Answers. It splits Siri’s work into three steps. The planner decides what Siri should do, the search operator finds the right information, and the summarizer delivers the answer. Apple’s AI will handle the first two steps. Google’s Gemini will do the summarizing. The update is expected with iOS 26.4 in early 2026.

• Apple is still testing different partners. Gemini is seen as the strongest option, but the company is also in talks with other AI developers. Earlier rumors about Perplexity are now less likely. Apple is also training its own models called Linwood and Glenwood to reduce reliance on outside providers. 

• The new feature may not stop at Siri. It could also appear in Spotlight search and Safari, making answers easier to find across Apple devices. This news had a quick effect on the market. Alphabet shares rose more than 3% and Apple stock was up by 1%.

💡What This Means for You

If Siri begins using Gemini, the way you search for information could change. Instead of typing into Google, you may get instant answers directly from Siri. For professionals, this means faster insights, fewer steps, and a new AI assistant deciding what information reaches you first.

🏦 Switzerland launches Its Own National AI Model

🧠The Pulse

Switzerland has released Apertus, its own national AI model created by public universities and research centers. The model is fully open and multilingual. It arrives with $45 million of government funding. Switzerland hopes this project will give Europe a trustworthy choice in a race long controlled by the United States and China.

📌The Download

• Apertus is built by EPFL, ETH Zurich and the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre using the Alps supercomputer. The project is entirely funded by the Swiss government and is called the world’s first national open source large language model. It works in German, French, Italian and English.

• The word Apertus comes from Latin and means “open.” The model’s training data and weights will be freely available. With this, researchers, businesses and policymakers can build new systems while keeping sensitive data under Swiss control. This move reduces dependence on foreign technology companies.

• The project received CHF 40 million which equals about $45 million. There will be both smaller and larger versions for different needs. Some experts believe it may not match GPT 5 or Claude Sonnet 4 in raw strength. However, Switzerland says trust, openness and sovereignty are more important in healthcare, finance and government.

💡What This Means for You

National AI models are starting to appear. For professionals, this means more options outside the American tech giants. With Apertus, transparency and control of data become major advantages. In the years ahead, trust may be just as important as speed or size in choosing the right AI.

📱Anker’s Coin-Sized AI-Powered Recorder

🧠The Pulse

Anker, a consumer electronics company from Shenzhen, China, has revealed a voice recorder as small as a coin. The Soundcore Work can capture conversations, mark key points with a tap, and create AI transcripts with about 97% accuracy. It aims to give professionals, students, and journalists a cheaper and lighter choice than current rivals.

📌The Download

• Anker is known worldwide for its charging devices, earbuds, and smart gadgets. Its audio brand Soundcore will launch the Soundcore Work at IFA Berlin in September. The device costs $99, with an optional $15.99 monthly plan for extra services. It measures 0.91 inches across, weighs only 10 grams, and comes with a charging case that stretches battery life from 8 to 32 hours.

• Users can begin recording with one tap and highlight moments with two taps, confirmed by light and vibration signals. Dual microphones keep voices clear even in busy rooms. AI transcription uses GPT 4 in more than 100 languages. Transcripts can be searched, exported, and read in the Soundcore mobile app.

• Anker says recordings are encrypted and deleted after transcription, but some reports suggest the work still happens in the cloud instead of fully on the device. A global release is expected in November. The recorder also supports quick charging. A 10 minute charge provides about 2 hours of use.

💡What This Means for You

AI recorders are now small enough to wear like an accessory. If you need notes from meetings, lectures, or interviews, this $99 device could replace heavier tools or note-taking apps. At the same time, your words may still pass through the cloud before reaching the transcript.

🎬 Google Photos Upgrades with Veo 3 AI Video Generation

🧠The Pulse

Google Photos now lets pictures move. With the new Veo 3 AI tool, anyone in the United States can turn still images into short video clips. You only need to open the Create tab, pick a photo, and watch it come alive. No editing experience, just instant results.

📌The Download

• Veo 3 is replacing the older Veo 2 model in Google Photos and brings clearer motion with sharper detail. The option appears inside the Create tab under Photo to Video. You can select a photo and then choose either “Subtle movement” for gentle motion or "I'm feeling lucky” for a surprise effect.

• Free users can create only a small number of 4 second videos each day and these clips are silent. People who subscribe to Google’s AI Pro or AI Ultra plans get more daily generations. In earlier launches, these plans also offered extras such as realistic audio and longer outputs. Every AI video includes a watermark to show it was machine made.

• The Create tab also includes other creative tools. Users can make collages, cinematic photos, highlight reels, and even remix images into anime, sketch, or 3D styles. The update is rolling out in the United States first. With Google’s past patterns of expansion, it is expected to reach global users soon.

💡What This Means for You

AI is now inside your photo albums. What once took video editors or special apps can be done in seconds. For professionals, this means ideas, campaigns, or even personal moments can turn into clips instantly. The real decision is how to use this speed in your daily work.

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AI TOOL OF THE DAY

 Office Timeline — Project Plans Made Simple

💡 What It Is?

Office Timeline is a timeline and Gantt chart maker built right inside PowerPoint. It helps you turn project data into clear visuals with just a few clicks. You can pick from templates, drag and drop tasks, and instantly create polished slides without struggling with complex project software.

🚀 Why Is It Trending?

Most project tools are too heavy for quick presentations. Office Timeline focuses on making project visuals fast, simple, and professional. It works seamlessly with PowerPoint, so managers and teams can share updates in a format everyone understands. It saves hours of manual formatting and delivers boardroom-ready visuals in minutes.

✅ What You Can Do With It?

You can create timelines, Gantt charts, and swimlane slides directly in PowerPoint. You can update project schedules on the fly, customize designs to match your brand, and export visuals for reports or stakeholder meetings. With one click, you can refresh slides to reflect the latest project data.

✨  Make every update boardroom-ready!

IN AI TODAY - QUICK HITS

⚡Quick Hits (60‑Second News Sprint)

Short, sharp updates to keep your finger on the AI pulse.

• ⚖️ Scale AI Sues Mercor Over Alleged Client Theft: Scale AI has taken legal action against its former employee Eugene Ling and the fast-growing company Mercor. The lawsuit says Ling and Mercor took trade secrets, private client details, and confidential business information from Scale AI. According to the filing, this information gave Mercor an unfair advantage as it competed for enterprise AI contracts.

• 🧒 FTC Prepares to Grill AI Leaders Over How Tech Affects Children: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is preparing to examine how AI chatbots may harm children’s mental health. It will demand internal documents from leading tech companies including OpenAI, Meta, and Character.AI. The agency wants to understand the risks these tools create and how firms manage children’s safety while using them.

• 🏢 xAI’s CFO Quits Elon Musk’s AI Startup: Mike Liberatore, who was serving as the chief financial officer of Elon Musk’s AI company xAI, has left his position. While at the company, he helped secure a $5 billion debt raise along with another $5 billion in equity, with nearly half funded by SpaceX, and he oversaw parts of its data center expansion in Memphis. His exit adds to the string of executive departures that have put a spotlight on xAI’s leadership stability. 

  🦆 DuckDuckGo Gives Subscribers Free Access to Top AI Models: DuckDuckGo’s $9.99 plan, which already offers VPN, data removal, and ID theft protection, now includes Duck.ai. The free chatbot gives access to Claude 3.5 Haiku, Llama 4 Scout, Mistral Small 3 24B, and GPT-4o mini. Paid users unlock GPT-4o, GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 4, and Llama Maverick.

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KEY QUOTES AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS

🙌 About Us

AI Pulse is the official newsletter by AIGPE™. Our mission: help professionals master Lean, Six Sigma, Project Management, and now AI, so you can deliver breakthroughs that stick.

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