Tag: Anthropic

TechPulse

OpenClaw Creator Peter Steinberger Joins OpenAI as Sam Altman Accelerates AI Agent Strategy

Tanisha Cardozo

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that Peter Steinberger, the creator of the viral AI agent OpenClaw, is joining OpenAI as the company sharpens its focus on next-generation autonomous AI systems. Altman confirmed that OpenClaw will continue to operate as an open-source project under a foundation model, with OpenAI providing ongoing support.

OpenClaw, previously known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, was launched just last month by Steinberger and quickly gained momentum across social media and developer communities. Its rapid rise reflects the growing demand for AI agents capable of independently completing tasks, making decisions, and taking actions on behalf of users without constant human oversight. Businesses and consumers alike are increasingly experimenting with AI systems that can handle workflows, research, communication, and operational processes autonomously.

In a post on X, Altman said Steinberger would join OpenAI “to drive the next generation of personal agents,” describing him as “a genius with a lot of amazing ideas about the future of very smart agents interacting with each other to do very useful things for people.” Altman added that intelligent agents are expected to become core to OpenAI’s product offerings in the near future.

Although financial terms were not disclosed, the move underscores the intensifying competition for AI talent across the technology sector. Earlier this year, OpenAI acquired former Apple designer Jony Ive’s AI devices startup io for more than $6 billion. Technology giants including Meta and Google have also been investing billions to attract top AI researchers and developers.

OpenAI, most recently valued at $500 billion, faces mounting competition in the generative AI market, particularly from Anthropic. Anthropic’s Claude models have been gaining traction among enterprise clients, especially with tools such as Claude Code. The company recently introduced Claude Opus 4.6, which it says improves coding capabilities, sustains tasks for longer durations, and delivers higher-quality professional output. Anthropic was reportedly valued at $380 billion in a fundraising round earlier this week.

OpenClaw has also expanded quickly in China, where it can integrate with locally developed language models such as DeepSeek and be configured for use with domestic messaging platforms. Chinese search engine Baidu plans to offer users of its main smartphone application direct access to OpenClaw.

However, some researchers have expressed concerns about the openness of OpenClaw and the potential cybersecurity risks posed by highly customizable AI agents that users can modify extensively. As AI systems become more autonomous and interconnected, the balance between innovation, openness, and security is expected to remain a central issue in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape.

With Steinberger joining OpenAI and OpenClaw continuing as an open-source initiative, the company appears determined to strengthen its leadership in the emerging era of intelligent AI agents capable of operating with greater independence and collaboration.

Business

Apple Hits $4 Trillion Market Value as Strong iPhone Sales Offset AI Concerns

Tanisha Cardozo

Apple has officially surpassed a $4 trillion market value, becoming the third Big Tech company in history to achieve this milestone, after Nvidia and Microsoft. The milestone comes amid robust demand for its iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air, which have helped lift shares about 13% since their launch on September 9, marking Apple’s first positive performance for the year.

The iPhone remains a critical revenue driver, accounting for more than half of Apple’s profit. Analysts say the iPhone Air’s slim design positions Apple to compete effectively against rivals like Samsung Electronics, while early sales of the iPhone 17 have outperformed its predecessor by 14% in key markets such as the U.S. and China, according to research firm Counterpoint. Brokerage Evercore ISI expects the strong demand to exceed market expectations for the quarter ending September, with upbeat forecasts anticipated for the December quarter.

Apple shares had faced headwinds earlier in the year due to stiff competition in China and uncertainties related to high U.S. tariffs affecting its major manufacturing hubs in Asia. While Apple has taken a cautious approach to artificial intelligence, including delayed upgrades to Siri and a slower rollout of the Apple Intelligence suite, reports indicate ongoing collaborations with Alphabet’s Gemini AI, Anthropic, and OpenAI.

Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer of Northlight Asset Management, noted, “The lack of a well-understood AI strategy is one of the overhangs for the stock. If Apple can incorporate AI in a way that excites consumers, it would transform the company.”

Apple reported its strongest quarterly results in years during April-June, achieving double-digit growth across key segments and surpassing analyst expectations. Its shares currently trade at 33.2 times projected earnings for the next 12 months, compared to 27.42 for the Nasdaq 100, reflecting the company’s strong valuation. Apple is expected to announce its Q4 results on October 30, which could further impact investor sentiment.

Despite underperforming the Nasdaq 100 this year, Apple’s milestone highlights the enduring appeal of its ecosystem, driven largely by iPhone sales and global brand loyalty.

TechPulse

Apple in Talks with OpenAI and Anthropic to Power Smarter Siri with Private Cloud AI

allycaralgoa

Cupertino, July 2025 — Apple is in early-stage discussions with leading artificial intelligence firms OpenAI and Anthropic to potentially integrate their large language models (LLMs) into a next-generation version of Siri, according to a new report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This move signals a major strategic shift, as Apple considers outsourcing part of its AI infrastructure to boost Siri’s intelligence—albeit on its own terms.

The key detail? Apple reportedly plans to run these LLMs on its own private cloud infrastructure, rather than relying on public cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure. This hybrid approach would allow Apple to maintain tight control over user privacy and data security while fast-tracking the capabilities of Siri to compete with modern AI assistants.

🤖 From In-House to Strategic Partnerships

While Apple has long preferred building software in-house, the rapid evolution of AI—particularly in natural language understanding—has raised the stakes. Siri, once considered a pioneering digital assistant, has lagged behind newer offerings like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude in terms of contextual understanding and conversational depth.

By potentially licensing customized models from OpenAI (maker of ChatGPT) and Anthropic (developer of Claude), Apple could accelerate Siri’s capabilities without fully reinventing the wheel.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, talks are still preliminary, and Apple is evaluating customization options, model size, and deployment methods that fit its privacy-first ecosystem.

🔐 Private Cloud Over Public AI

One of the most notable aspects of this strategy is Apple’s insistence on running LLMs within its own secure cloud. This would allow the company to leverage high-performance AI capabilities without compromising its long-held privacy principles—something that sets it apart from competitors.

This hybrid architecture—combining on-device intelligence with cloud-based processing—is expected to be a core feature of Apple’s future AI stack. The system would offload heavy tasks like context processing and generative conversation to the cloud, while simpler, privacy-sensitive queries remain handled locally on devices.

🔄 Implications for Apple’s AI Roadmap

While Apple has made strides with on-device AI, including features introduced in iOS 18 and the new Apple Intelligence framework, this move suggests a pragmatic shift in its AI ambitions. Rather than building a GPT-style LLM entirely from scratch, Apple seems willing to collaborate—at least temporarily—with companies who are already leaders in generative AI.

Analysts believe this could lead to a tiered Siri experience, with advanced features gradually rolling out in late 2025 or early 2026. Apple’s own foundational model efforts may continue in parallel, aiming to bring more capabilities in-house over time.

🧠 The Bigger Picture

With Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta all racing ahead with integrated AI features, Apple’s rumored partnership strategy highlights a practical pivot in the face of accelerating innovation. As users increasingly expect smart, adaptive digital assistants, Apple is now poised to evolve Siri beyond its limited command-based roots into a more conversational, context-aware experience.

Whether these partnerships materialize or not, one thing is clear: Apple is no longer sitting out the AI race—it’s entering on its own, carefully curated terms.