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Apple has restructured its artificial intelligence strategy under software chief Craig Federighi, accelerating plans to overhaul Siri by relying on external AI models after years of internal delays and organizational friction. According to a detailed report from The Information, Apple's approach to artificial intelligence has undergone a significant shift over the past year. Apple software chief Craig Federighi is said to be at the center of that shift, having assumed direct oversight of the company's AI organization and is now driving decisions that will shape the future of ‌Siri‌ and other Apple Intelligence features across the product lineup. Last fall, Federighi apparently addressed a joint meeting of Apple's software and AI teams, expressing enthusiasm for closer collaboration while also signaling dissatisfaction with the company's pace of progress in artificial intelligence. Some members of Apple's foundation models team interpreted the remarks as criticism of their work. In December, Apple moved to consolidate its AI leadership under Federighi, completing a transition that had begun earlier in the year when responsibility for ‌Siri‌ was removed from the AI group and brought under Federighi's software division. In January, Apple announced plans to use Google's Gemini AI models to power future AI upgrades, including an improved version of ‌Siri‌. In Federighi's view, integrating a third-party model would allow Apple to finally ship a revamped ‌Siri‌ later this year after controversially postponing the update in 2025. However, the report also outlines internal concerns about the implications of placing AI under Federighi's control. People who have worked closely with him described him as highly cost-conscious and skeptical of investments with uncertain returns. This approach stands in notable contrast to rivals such as OpenAI, Meta Platforms, and Google, who invest tens of billions of dollars in data centers, chips, and AI researchers. Apple has attempted to limit infrastructure spending by emphasizing on-device processing and its Private Cloud Compute system, which uses Apple silicon. The company was said to be waiting for the cost of AI computation and talent to decline, betting that most consumer use cases will eventually be handled locally on devices. Federighi apparently viewed AI as unpredictable and difficult to control, preferring deterministic software behavior that could be clearly specified during design reviews. He rejected proposals to use AI to dynamically reorganize the iPhone home screen, arguing that such changes would confuse users. Tensions over AI strategy have surfaced internally before. Around 2019, Mike Rockwell, who was leading development of the Vision Pro headset, reportedly proposed an AI-driven interface. He criticized Federighi's software approach as overly conservative, prompting a rebuke. Rockwell was later placed in charge of ‌Siri‌ in early 2025 and now reports directly to Federighi. Despite his earlier skepticism, Federighi's stance shifted following the release of ChatGPT in late 2022. People close to him said he became convinced of the potential of large language models after experimenting with the technology and instructed his teams to explore ways to integrate similar capabilities into Apple products. Federighi reportedly concluded that Apple's internal models did not perform adequately on devices, while members of the foundation models team believed they were being blamed for challenges related to model optimization, which fell under the software organization's responsibilities. Some team members complained they were not given sufficient guidance on how their models would ultimately be used, limiting their ability to compete with external alternatives. Around the time Apple removed ‌Siri‌ oversight from Giannandrea and assigned it to Rockwell, with Federighi directing the broader effort, Federighi instructed teams to…

Zach Bryan misses his first No. 1 on one U.K. chart as With Heaven On Top launches at No. 2, but the set brings him to new career peaks on other tallies.

In the 2010s, the New England Patriots making the AFC Championship Game was literally an annual occurrence. In the last few years, however, the team has been absence from the conference title round: since 2019, the team has either not advanced that far in the playoffs or failed to qualify for the tournament entirely. This year, however, the Patriots have returned. After beating the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans in the wild card and divisional playoffs, respectively, they are now on to the AFC Championship. Standing in their way, however, is a formidable opponent: the top-seeded Denver Broncos, who beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime last week to secure the right to compete for a Super Bowl berth in front of their home fans. Home field advantage, especially at Denver’s Mile High Stadium, could very well factor into the matchup. Looking merely at the two teams, however, we can see that the Patriots coming out on top is a realistic possibility. Passing game Patriots pass offense vs. Broncos pass defense: Drake Maye has been under significant pressure this postseason, and the results have at times not been pretty: he has been sacked 10 times, and fumbled on six total occasions. This week, the task will not be easier for the the Pro Bowler and his supporting cast. Denver’s defense is averaging almost four sacks per game this season, ranking first in the NFL in quarterback takedowns. If the New England offense line struggles to create clean pockets, their offense could therefore be in for yet another bumpy ride. That said, one big themes in both of the team’s previous two playoff games has been the unit’s resilience: Maye and company managed to make enough, and timely, pass plays against both the Chargers and Texans to secure victories. Ultimately, both sides should be able to make plays in this strength-versus-strength matchup, but we still cannot bet against Maye. | Edge: Patriots Patriots pass defense vs. Broncos pass offense: The Patriots defense has played some inspired football this postseason, and we would have given it an edge had Broncos starter Bo Nix not suffered a season-ending ankle injury in overtime against Buffalo. With backup Jarrett Stidham now set to make his fifth career start and see his first extended action since the 2023 season, the scales shift even more dramatically toward the visitors. That does not mean he and the Broncos won’t be able to land their punches, though. Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin are a productive starting duo at wide receiver, with the team’s depth and tight end options also actively involved throughout the year. Add the fact that the Broncos ranked first in the NFL in sack percentage during the regular season (3.6%) and you can see why this matchup could be a lot closer than it looks like on paper. | Edge: Patriots Running game Patriots rushing offense vs. Broncos run defense: Rhamondre Stevenson is playing the best football of his career, and has had some good moments in both of the Patriots’ playoff games so far. That said, New England’s run game overall has still been hit or miss throughout the tournament: between its games against the Chargers and Texans, it posted only -0.270 expected points per run and a success rate of 34%. Now going up against a talented Broncos front, the outlook is not necessarily rosy either. Of course, Denver had its fair share of struggles against the Bills last week, giving up 183 rushing yards and 5.1 yards per carry. Quarterback scrambles in particular proved to be a particular problem for Denver’s front six, and something Drake Maye is more than capable of exploiting as well. Still, we are giving Denver a slight advantage. | Edge: Broncos Patriots run defense vs. Broncos rushing offense: Ever since Milton Williams returned to the lineup following his stint on injured reserve, the Patriots run defense has returned to form as well. Neither L.A. nor Houston were able to establish a consistent presence on the ground, in large part due to…

When the New England Patriots selected Will Campbell fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, they did so with one goal in mind: have him lock up Drake Maye’s blindside for years to come. Early on in his career, he has shown plenty of promise. Recently, however, Campbell has had his issues. Going up against some of the NFL’s most potent pass rushers in back-to-back weeks in the playoffs he was credited with three sacks and nine total quarterback pressures given up. Two of those sacks resulted in Maye fumbling the ball. With the Patriots now on to the AFC Championship Game to take on a Denver Broncos team leading the league in sacks, the spotlight naturally is on Campbell again. So, how do you feel about him? That is what we want to know in this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey. Make sure to participate in our poll, and to head down to the comment section to share and discuss your answers. As always, the results will be posted later this week. Please sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Please take our survey