💻Weekly Download #103: Why did Apple pay Google $1 billion?

Hey , it’s Sunday, November 9. This one’s packed, so here’s your quick scan before you dive in:

• The Big One: Apple taps Google’s Gemini for a $1B/year “brain transplant” for Siri

• How-To: Windows 11 froze? Ctrl+Alt+Del → hold Ctrl, click the Power icon → Emergency Restart. Fast, safe reboot.

• Fast Five: OpenAI lawsuits over suicides; Tesla’s autonomous Cybercab targets April 2026; Australia bans under-16s from social media Dec 10 (hefty fines);

• Gear: M5 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro announced; Pixel’s November Feature Drop brings expanded Gemini features and smarter messaging.

Plus, we have a winner for our recent giveaway! Did you win? Let’s jump in and find out.

Partner Message

Find your customers on Roku this Black Friday

As with any digital ad campaign, the important thing is to reach streaming audiences who will convert. To that end, Roku’s self-service Ads Manager stands ready with powerful segmentation and targeting options. After all, you know your customers, and we know our streaming audience.

Worried it’s too late to spin up new Black Friday creative? With Roku Ads Manager, you can easily import and augment existing creative assets from your social channels. We also have AI-assisted upscaling, so every ad is primed for CTV.

Once you’ve done this, then you can easily set up A/B tests to flight different creative variants and Black Friday offers. If you’re a Shopify brand, you can even run shoppable ads directly on-screen so viewers can purchase with just a click of their Roku remote.

Bonus: we’re gifting you $5K in ad credits when you spend your first $5K on Roku Ads Manager. Just sign up and use code GET5K. Terms apply.

Use code GET5K now

GIVEAWAY

Our $100 Amazon gift card giveaway has come to a close and we now have a winner to announce. Congrats to Greg G. We’ll be in touch via email to pass over your prize. For everyone else, keep an eye out for a new giveaway soon.

📝 How-To

Windows 11 Froze? Here’s Your Quick Fix

Don’t panic if your Windows 11 PC locks up—skip the hard reset and try this hidden trick:

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del → hold Ctrl and click the Power icon → hit ‘Emergency Restart’.

Boom—your system reboots instantly (but make sure you’ve saved your work ahead of time!).

This move resets your machine safely—no file corruption, no wasted time.

Pro tip: Keep Windows updated and scan for bloatware to avoid nasty freezes in the first place. Save this tip for a rainy day! [LINK]

📩 Newsletters Worth Reading

Sloth Bytes
The newsletter for lazy programmers. Join 50k+ people and learn useful programming tips [LINK]

Turing Post
For smart people building AI and with AI [LINK]

The Tech Wagon
Explore the latest tech trends, emerging tools, and business models shaping the future of wealth, work, and industry. [LINK]

Mad Max mode
(noun)

Definition: A controversial, high-speed driving feature in Tesla cars where the AI prioritizes aggressive lane changes and speed over cautious driving [LINK]

Usage: "You turn on Mad Max mode and suddenly your Tesla thinks it's in a Fast & Furious remake."

📰 The Big One

Apple taps Google Gemini to supercharge Siri for a $1B-a-year

Apple is adding Google's Gemini AI to Siri in a deal worth $1 billion each year. Here's what we know:

• The new Siri will run a customized Gemini model on Apple’s own Private Cloud Compute servers, keeping privacy at the forefront while leveraging Google’s AI power.

• This Gemini model is substantial, with 1.2 trillion parameters, far exceeding Apple’s in-house model.

• The collaboration is somewhat surprising given Apple and Google’s rivalry, but Apple considered other partners (like OpenAI and Anthropic) before landing on Google.

• The upgrade is described as a “brain transplant” for Siri, meant to help Apple catch up in the fast-moving AI race.

• The partnership is behind-the-scenes; Siri’s user experience will remain Apple-branded, and no “ChatGPT-style” Google chatbot will be directly added to iPhones.

• The revamped Siri is expected to launch next spring. [LINK]

⚡ Fast Five

1.) OpenAI faces lawsuits alleging ChatGPT drove users to suicide
Seven more people join the batch of latest lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove their loved ones to death [LINK]

2.) Tesla plans April 2026 launch for autonomous Cybercab
The company will begin producing its autonomous Cybercab robotaxi in April 2026 at its Austin, Texas factory [LINK]

3.) Australia enforces social media ban for under-16 users
Facebook, Instagram and TikTok must block users under 16 starting December 10 or face fines up to $49.5 million [LINK]

4.) Epic’s Victory Royale: Google to open Android like never before
Epic Games wins big as Google offers a global settlement [LINK].

5.) Grand Theft Auto VI delayed again
The game is now slated for a Nov. 19, 2026 release (fingers crossed) [LINK]

PARTNER MESSAGE

Free, private email that puts your privacy first

Proton Mail’s free plan keeps your inbox private and secure—no ads, no data mining. Built by privacy experts, it gives you real protection with no strings attached.

Get free private email

💾 Extra Bytes

Meta has a $16 billion scam problem (or revenue) [LINK]

Uncle Sam demands your DNA in massive immigration data grab [LINK]

OpenAI and Microsoft AI boom is running out of juice [LINK]

Researchers say AI browsers are a cybersecurity mess [LINK]

Apple’s leaker drama just got messier (and a bit weird) [LINK]

Sora lands on Android in the US, Canada, and other regions [LINK]

Gemini AI transforms Google Maps into your personalized navigator [LINK]

Discord’s new features let parents monitor teens without reading texts [LINK]

Landlords are using AI to catfish renters with fake apartment photos [LINK]

YouTube’s war on ad blockers is breaking the site for everyone [LINK]

📱 Gear of the Week

Apple iPad Pro (M5) & MacBook Pro (M5)

• Apple released refreshed models featuring the M5 chip, which boasts up to 3.5x the AI performance of previous versions and faster wireless connectivity thanks to the new N1 chip. Shipments begin late October, available for preorder now [LINK]

Google Pixel November Feature Drop

• Google pushed a major free software update to Pixel device users, adding expanded Gemini AI features (especially on Pixel Watch 4), new customization options, and prioritized messaging tools [LINK]

🤑 DEALS

• Surfshark VPN slashes prices—grab 2 years for just $45.60! [LINK]

• Score a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license for just $9.97 [LINK]

• Get Parallels Desktop Pro and Standard at 50% off—limited time offer [LINK]

Quick Offer: Sign up and download Perplexity’s new Comet web browser. Sign up using this link, and you get a free month of Pro access. Hey, it’s free real estate.

🧰 TOOLS

Arcitext: AI-assisted writing tool that finds your unique voice [LINK].

Noro ADHD Planner: AI-powered planner that works with your ADHD brain, not against it [LINK]

GTA Radio: Listen to GTA radio stations in your browser anytime [LINK]

Superinbox: Replies and organizes your emails. One-click setup. Save 1 hour every day [LINK]

Thanks for reading!

Alright! Thanks for getting all the way to the end. Until next week…….

-Kevin

📌 Partner Disclaimer: We may earn a commission if you purchase something through our links or sign up for any services. This is one way we support The Weekly Download