Apple’s next major Mac software update may mark the beginning of the end for Intel-powered Macs while also pushing deeper into AI-powered experiences. New rumors surrounding macOS 27 suggest Apple is preparing significant changes ranging from smarter Siri capabilities to refinements for its controversial “Liquid Glass” design language.

According to reports, macOS 27 could become the first version of macOS to substantially reduce or fully end support for Intel-based Macs, completing a transition Apple began in 2020 with the launch of its first Apple Silicon chips. While Apple has steadily shifted focus toward M-series processors over the past several years, macOS 27 may represent the clearest sign yet that the company is ready to leave Intel hardware behind. Although this is not new news – Apple was already looking to phase out Intel-powered Macs when it rolled out macOS Tahoe last year.

The timing would align with Apple’s typical software support cycle. Intel Macs have already started missing out on some Apple Intelligence features introduced during the AI push across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Ending support entirely would allow Apple to focus more aggressively on AI, machine learning, and hardware-specific optimizations designed around Apple Silicon.

Apple appears ready to fully embrace its AI-first Mac future

One of the biggest rumored changes involves Siri. Reports suggest Apple is continuing work on a significantly smarter version of the assistant capable of handling more natural conversations, contextual awareness, and deeper app integration. While Apple’s AI rollout has faced criticism for moving more slowly than rivals like Google and OpenAI, macOS 27 could become an important part of the company’s broader Apple Intelligence strategy.

The update may also refine Apple’s newer “Liquid Glass” visual style, which reportedly focuses on translucent layers, reflective interface elements, and smoother animations across macOS. Early reactions to the design direction have been mixed, with some users praising the futuristic appearance while others argue it prioritizes aesthetics over clarity and usability.

Apple is also expected to continue integrating AI-powered productivity tools throughout macOS. Features involving summarization, writing assistance, smarter search, and proactive recommendations could become more deeply embedded into the operating system as Apple tries to make AI feel native to the Mac experience instead of functioning as a separate tool.

For users still relying on Intel Macs, however, the rumored support changes may become the biggest story. Millions of Intel-based MacBooks and desktops remain in active use, especially in businesses, schools, and creative industries. If Apple significantly cuts compatibility, many users could face difficult upgrade decisions sooner than expected.

macOS 27 may reveal Apple’s long-term strategy for the Mac

The rumored update reflects a broader shift happening across Apple’s ecosystem. The company increasingly designs software around its own custom chips, allowing tighter integration between hardware and software features. Apple Silicon Macs already deliver major advantages in battery life, performance efficiency, and AI processing compared to older Intel systems.

Ending Intel support would also simplify development for Apple and third-party app makers by reducing the number of architectures they need to support. However, it risks frustrating long-time Mac users whose devices may still feel perfectly functional despite losing future software support.

Apple is expected to officially unveil macOS 27 during WWDC 2026, where the company will likely detail its next-generation AI strategy across Macs, iPhones, and iPads. Until then, many of the reported features remain speculative, but the rumors strongly suggest Apple is preparing one of the most significant transitions in Mac history since the move away from Intel first began.

E Ink and MediaTek have teamed up to bring something genuinely exciting to a product category that has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Your next e-reader might just transcribe meetings, translate languages in real time, and finally show you colors that don’t look washed out.

The two companies announced an expanded collaboration built around MediaTek’s new generative AI e-reader chips, the MT8115 and MT8126. These support both Linux and Android, and pack a dedicated NPU that delivers up to 7.4 TOPS of AI computing performance. 

What all that technical jargon actually means for you is useful stuff like multi-speaker voice recognition, meeting transcription, and real-time translation across more than 20 languages, all processed on the device itself.

What does this mean for your reading experience?

The display improvements are just as exciting. The new chips use a 7-level high-voltage oxide TFT driving technology that speeds up how ePaper particles move on screen. That means faster page turns, cleaner transitions, less ghosting, and a noticeably smoother experience overall. 

The chipsets support screens up to 13.3 inches at 300 PPI, which is sharp enough to make text look great. For color, the chips pair with E Ink’s Gallery and Kaleido technologies to deliver better color depth and a wider color range. 

Illustrated books and educational materials are the obvious beneficiaries here, and the improvement should be meaningful compared to what color e-readers have offered so far. To date, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft has delivered the best colors in my opinion. I cannot wait to see how far this new tech will push the color e-ink displays. 

When will you get to use this?

MediaTek’s new chips are expected to debut in next-generation tablets from Linfiny, an E Ink subsidiary. Both companies will also be showing off the technology at Computex 2026 in Taipei later this year, so we should get a clearer picture of real-world performance soon.

If the results live up to the promises, e-readers are about to become a lot more capable and a lot harder to ignore.

Instagram has resolved a security issue that allowed several users’ accounts to get hacked. The attack appeared to rely on tricking Meta’s own AI-powered support chatbot into granting access to a victim’s account.

Over the weekend, several users on Reddit claimed that their Instagram accounts had been compromised, and a number of users on X warned of similar account hijackings. The compromised accounts include the Instagram handle for the Obama-era White House, which appears to have been inactive since 2017; and the account of the U.S. Space Force’s chief master sergeant John Bentivegna.

Security researcher Jane Wong said her Instagram account was also taken over. 

“The password got changed without my knowledge and I was getting different password reset attempts throughout yesterday,” said Wong. “Quite concerning.” 

A video posted on X showed the step-by-step process to hack someone’s Instagram account. The hacker allegedly used a VPN to spoof the targets’ presumed location to avoid triggering Instagram’s automated account protections. Then, the hacker opened a chat with Meta AI Support Assistant and asked the bot to add a new email address to the target’s account. The chatbot can be seen sending a verification code to the email address provided by the hacker; the hacker then shares the verification code with the chatbot, which prompts the chatbot to show a button to “Reset Password.” The hacker enters a new password and takes over the victim’s account. 

TechCrunch was able to verify that the hacker’s public email mailbox, which was displayed in the video, effectively received the verification code. 

The attack relied on the fact that at no point the hacker had to take over the legitimate email address linked to the victims’ Instagram account. 

On Monday, Instagram spokesperson Andy Stone said in a reply to Wong’s post and others that the issue was now fixed. It’s unclear how many Instagram users had their accounts improperly accessed.

Meta did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.