In the not-too-long-ago past, the biggest names of the tech industry competed to build their own AI software. Now, though some brands are still on the hunt, it’s easier to name certain software that have more successfully drowned users in a flood of AI-powered features. Today, Google gets another win by adding Apple’s Siri to its Gemini cap.

In the past, Apple peddled Apple Intelligence, an upcoming AI-powered system to compete against the giants of the industry. However, much like other features from other brands, Apple Intelligence came out half baked with features still lacking months after the initial launch.

Now, Apple has signed a deal with Google to use Gemini for a revamped Siri. The former plans to launch a new version of Siri later this year. Because of the deal, the voice assistant will start using Gemini as a foundation for its own services. Currently, Samsung’s Galaxy AI already uses Gemini.

Formerly a battleground between so many competing brands, it’s now looking like a battle between two major companies: Google and OpenAI. Google now has a huge grip, though. Both Samsung and Apple are no slouches when it comes to owning market share in the world’s smartphones.

Now, as consumers, Apple’s deal probably doesn’t mean much besides the continued influx of features that add little to no value to a smartphone.

SEE ALSO: Google paid Samsung a lot of money to install Gemini on Galaxy

If you look at a modern keyboard, you’ll find that the Copilot button is the cleanest one on the entire panel because no one ever willingly presses it. And yet, Microsoft still believes in the feature’s value. To show their odd commitment, the company is reportedly adding Copilot to File Explorer.

According to @phantomofearth from X (via Windows Central), a new Windows 11 preview build will add a button beside File Explorer’s navigation menu. Currently, the button is invisible and doesn’t do anything. However, the report says that the feature is tied to something called “Chat with Copilot.” It’s becoming clear that the system aims to add the AI software right inside the file organization app.

Besides revealing the potential addition of the egregious feature inside File Explorer, @phantomofearth also added mock-ups of a desktop with Copilot right on the taskbar, hinting at a potential nightmare of the feature lording itself over where it’s not wanted.

Thankfully, the preview build doesn’t always represent a final version of the system. There’s still a chance that Microsoft will not add the AI to the File Explorer.

As of late, Microsoft has received a lot of flak for persistently pushing Copilot onto users, regardless of how they feel about the feature. The company is also facing criticisms in the background for being a major proponent of AI data centers in the United States, which, in turn, have caused the prices of tech to skyrocket this year.

SEE ALSO: Dell admits AI PCs were a mistake

OnePlus might be starting off the year with a minus-one from their ranks. Taiwan has issued an arrest warrant for the brand’s CEO Pete Lau for allegedly employing Taiwanese workers illegally.

It’s a shocker of a headline in the first few weeks of 2026. According to Taiwan News, Lau created a new company in Hong Kong with two conspirators surnamed Lin and Cheng. The company was allegedly a shell company to expand OnePlus operations elsewhere. It eventually established a branch in Taiwan.

Between 2015 and 2021, the company supposedly shipped around US$ 72.93 million to the Taiwanese branch for the staff recruitment of over 70 engineers from the country. According to Lin and Cheng, who have both been charged by Taiwanese courts already, the Taiwan branch’s purpose was only to conduct research and development for OnePlus. Others have also alleged that the branch developed software for both OnePlus and OPPO.

As such, Taiwan has issued a warrant for Pete Lau. Because of the long-standing tensions between Taiwan and China, Lau is facing a heavy issue. Both his alleged conspirators have been charged with violations of the Cross-Strait Act, which pertains to the relationship between the two countries.

SEE ALSO: US lawmakers seeks to ban next Chinese target, OnePlus