Apple is tightening controls over how AI agents access data on Mac computers. The changes come after complaints about Meta's Muse agent, which users said reached private messages without clear permission. Apple will update Full Disk Access settings so users must take explicit action before third-party apps or agents can read their data. The company has not given a date for the rollout.
Google is also reshaping access to its AI tools. Starting October 9, 2026, the Gemini app will remove Flash and Pro models from its free tier. Free users will be limited to Flash-Lite, while paid plans like AI Plus, AI Pro, and AI Ultra unlock stronger model tiers. This shift follows a broader overhaul of Gemini's usage limits that began in May 2026.
In the chip market, Cerebras Systems saw its stock fall 20% to a post-IPO low. The drop followed the expiration of lockup periods, which let early investors and employees sell shares. Cerebras faces heavy competition from Nvidia, which controls roughly 80% of the AI training market, and investors are questioning whether newer chipmakers can keep pace.
Nvidia's Shield TV streaming device jumped $100 in price to $199.99, driven by rising memory costs tied to AI and machine learning demand. Amazon Fire TV and other streaming devices have also seen price increases. At the same time, South Korean semiconductor suppliers are benefiting from higher chip prices and growing HBM demand, with companies like SFA Semicon and Exicon surging over the past month.
Beyond hardware, AI is finding use in unexpected areas. The Smithsonian's Revolution Crossroads project uses AI to link American Revolution artifacts across institutions, identifying around 10,000 objects from 1770 to 1810 and letting historians verify the connections. In crypto, Grayscale reported that AI-focused tokens gained 54% in September, with NEAR Protocol up 183%, as investors bet on blockchains supporting AI agent payments and compute.
Key Takeaways
- Apple will update Mac Full Disk Access rules after Meta's Muse AI agent accessed private messages without clear user consent.
- Google removes Gemini Flash and Pro from the free tier starting October 9, 2026, limiting free users to Flash-Lite.
- Cerebras stock fell 20% to a post-IPO low amid insider selling and Nvidia's dominance in AI training hardware.
- Nvidia Shield TV price rose $100 to $199.99 due to memory costs driven by AI and machine learning demand.
- South Korean semiconductor suppliers are surging as AI chip and HBM demand shifts the industry toward full inspection.
- The Smithsonian uses AI to connect about 10,000 American Revolution artifacts across collections, speeding up research.
- Grayscale reports AI crypto tokens gained 54% in September, with NEAR Protocol up 183%.
- Apple plans to require explicit user action before AI agents can access sensitive data on Mac.
- Google's Gemini overhaul tightens free-tier access as paid plans offer stronger models.
- Nvidia maintains roughly 80% of the AI training chip market, putting pressure on newer competitors.
Apple updates disk access rules to stop AI agent misuse
Apple changed its full-disk access permissions after a tech columnist found Meta's AI agent Muse sent him a notification about his messages. Jason Aten said he never gave Muse permission to read his messages. Apple wants to prevent similar privacy issues from happening in the future.
Apple to flag AI data requests on Mac after Muse complaints
Apple said on Friday it will update Mac operating systems to make it clearer when AI agents request access to all data. Users criticized Meta's Muse agent for accessing what they believed were private messages. Apple said some developers use Full Disk Access in risky ways. The company plans to add stronger controls going forward.
Apple updates Mac permissions against AI data access
Apple will release new controls for Full Disk Access on Mac computers. The update will explicitly ask users before granting third-party apps access to their system. Apple said it is acting because of the rise of AI agents. Full Disk Access currently lets some apps like backup services access all data on a Mac.
Apple tightens Mac disk access as AI agents grow
Apple is strengthening Full Disk Access controls on Macs because more AI agents are using the permission. Full Disk Access lets apps read or write almost all data on a Mac's drive. AI agents can use it to access messages, contacts, photos, emails, and browsing history. Apple has not given a timeline for the new controls but says it will make the setting clearer.
Apple to flag AI data requests after Muse complaints
Apple plans to change its Mac system so users better understand when AI agents request data access. Some users said Meta's Muse agent accessed private messages they believed were protected. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said Muse needs both Full Disk Access and a Messages connector to read messages. Apple said it will require very explicit user action for granting such access in the future.
Cerebras stock hits post-IPO low amid Nvidia competition
Cerebras Systems shares fell 20% to a post-IPO low this week. The drop came as the company faced pressure from Nvidia and a wave of insider selling after lockup expiration. Early investors and employees were finally able to sell shares, creating heavy selling pressure. The company struggles to gain market share against Nvidia in the AI chip market.
Cerebras stock crashes 20% under Nvidia pressure
Cerebras Systems stock plummeted 20% to an all-time low. The selloff accelerated after the company's lockup period expired, releasing shares from early investors and employees. Cerebras uses innovative Wafer Scale Engine technology but still struggles against Nvidia, which controls about 80% of the AI training market. Investors are reassessing AI hardware startups and demanding proof they can compete with established players.
Google restricts Gemini Flash and Pro models to paid users
Google is removing Flash and Pro models from the free tier of the Gemini app starting October 9, 2026. Free users will only have access to Flash-Lite, the smallest and fastest model. Paid plans like AI Plus, AI Pro, and AI Ultra will unlock different model tiers. The change follows a broader overhaul of Gemini's usage limits that began in May 2026.
AI industry leaders claim to create new sentience
Leaders in the AI industry believe they are creating a new form of sentience through their systems. This idea is growing among major companies making bold claims about AI capabilities. However, experts say we cannot confirm whether these AI systems are truly conscious. A recent interview with a leading AI company CEO explored these deep questions about machine sentience.
Smithsonian uses AI to link American Revolution artifacts
The Smithsonian Institution is using AI to connect artifacts from the American Revolution. The Revolution Crossroads project lets the public and scholars search collections and draw links across the Smithsonian and groups like the Library of Congress. Since spring, AI models have quickly found connections that would have taken years of manual searching. Researchers identified about 10,000 objects from 1770 to 1810 and used human historians to verify the AI findings.
Nova stock faces questions as AI chip spending grows
Nova Ltd. is a semiconductor metrology and process control supplier that may benefit from rising AI infrastructure spending. Chip designs tied to AI workloads are harder to manufacture, so fabs rely more on Nova's inspection and measurement tools. Nova has a P/E of 46.6x and is projected to see revenue rise 18.6% a year. However, order timing, customer qualification speed, and insider trading patterns remain key concerns for investors.
How to use the Siri AI kill switch on your iPhone
Apple launched its AI chatbot called Siri AI, built on the Apple Intelligence platform in iOS. Siri AI can access your emails, messages, and other data to answer personalized queries and pull real-time information from the web. Apple has built in a kill switch that lets users disable Siri AI. If you turn it off, the chatbot features are removed while Apple Intelligence remains.
NEAR token leads AI crypto rally, Grayscale reports
Grayscale said its AI crypto sector gained 54% in September, more than double the broader crypto market's 24% rise. NEAR Protocol jumped 183% during September and was up over 151% in the past 30 days. Other AI tokens like Venice, Worldcoin, and Bittensor also posted strong gains. Grayscale believes blockchains could serve as infrastructure for AI agent payments, identity, and private compute.
Nvidia Shield TV price rises 100 dollars due to AI memory costs
The Nvidia Shield TV, a streaming device available since 2015, now costs $199.99 after a $100 price hike. The increase is driven by rising memory costs as AI and machine learning demand grows. The device runs Android TV and is known for high-quality video and audio. Other streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV have also seen price increases.
AI reshapes South Korea's semiconductor investment landscape
South Korean semiconductor materials, components, and equipment companies are surging as AI chip and HBM prices rise. SFA Semicon and Exicon shares jumped 94% and 89.2% over the past month. Rising chip prices are shifting the industry from sample testing to 100% inspection, benefiting test equipment makers. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are focusing on HBM production and outsourcing commodity DRAM back-end processing to external vendors.
Sources
- Apple changes full-disk access permissions to curb abuse from AI agents
- Apple says it will flag AI requests for Mac data after Meta's Muse draws complaints
- Apple will update Mac permissions to protect users from AI agents accessing their data
- Apple tightens macOS Full Disk Access controls as AI agents proliferate
- Apple says it will flag AI requests for Mac data after Meta's Muse draws complaints
- Cerebras Hits Post-IPO Low as Nvidia Pressure Mounts
- Cerebras Stock Crashes 20% as Nvidia Pressure Mounts
- Gemini Flash And Gemini Pro Models To No Longer Be Available To Free Gemini Users
- The AI Industry Is Playing God, in the Weirdest Possible Way
- How the Smithsonian is using AI to connect artifacts from the American
- Is AI Chip Spending Altering The Investment Case For Nova Stock (NVMI)?
- Your iPhone has a Siri AI kill switch. Here's how to use it
- NEAR Leads AI Crypto Rally As Grayscale Says Sector Gains More Than Double Broader Market
- The Nvidia Shield TV Is 7 Years Old. It Just Got a $100 Price Hike
- AI Reshapes South Korea's Semiconductor Investment Landscape—The Rally in Materials, Components, and Back-End Processing Is Just Beginning
Comments
Please log in to post a comment.