Sam Altman, the former CEO of OpenAI who was fired by the board, is currently negotiating his potential return as CEO. Altman has set a 5PM deadline for the situation to be resolved, and one of the conditions for his return is that the existing board steps down. Satya Nadella from Microsoft is reportedly mediating the discussion to select a new board. If a deal isn’t reached by the deadline, the negotiations may extend further.

Apple plans to revamp its AirPods line, with a new report stating that the entire line will be overhauled starting next year until 2025. The revamp will include a new earbud design, improved audio quality, and a new look for the cases. Two new 4th-gen AirPods models will be introduced, replacing the current 2nd and 3rd-gen AirPods. The higher-end model will feature noise-canceling and a case with a speaker for Find My alerts. The AirPods Pro will offer little over the higher-end 4th-gen AirPods, while the AirPods Max will see a minor update. All new AirPods will switch from Lightning to USB-C.

Actor Peter Spellos, known for his roles in “American Dreams” and the “Transformers” series, has passed away at the age of 69 after battling pancreatic cancer. He was loved, cared for, and surrounded by people during his final days at a hospice in Indianapolis. Peter’s voice work, particularly as the character Sky-Byte, made him popular among fans and regulars at comic conventions. His family plans to hold an online gathering to commemorate his life.

The iPhone shutdown screen lacks a restart option, offering only a shutdown option, due to the device’s operating system design. This restriction is meant to ensure a proper restart of the system, as a complete shutdown and subsequent startup is considered more effective in resolving potential software issues.

Apple has confirmed that it will add support for the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging standard to future software releases, allowing iPhone owners and Android users to share media, see read receipts, and share locations inside text threads. The move may be an attempt to appeal to European lawmakers who are considering whether Apple’s iMessage should be regulated. While the addition of RCS support will bring a more uniform messaging experience, Apple will not include end-to-end encryption like Google did for RCS messages. iMessage will continue to exist alongside RCS messaging.

Apple’s rumored Vision Pro headset was initially planned for a January 2024 release, but it seems the launch has been delayed. It is now expected to debut around March 2024 in the United States. The device will be available only through Apple’s retail stores and online store, with a curated rollout experience. Apple may hold a media event in spring to showcase the headset’s features before its release.

OpenAI’s abrupt and opaque firing of its caretaker, Sam Altman, has caused concern among stakeholders and partners, including major shareholder Microsoft. Employees and Altman loyalists were not informed ahead of time, leading to resignations and the potential for a new venture to undermine OpenAI’s progress. The board later attempted to bring Altman back, but the mishandling of the situation has damaged the company’s reputation and relationship with Microsoft. The board’s decision revealed concerns about the rapid development of potentially dangerous AI technology, but the manner in which it was handled may have caused more harm than good.