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Apple may soon find itself facing another regulatory battle, as Bloomberg reports that Chinese authorities are intensifying their scrutiny of the company’s App Store policies. According to sources familiar with the matter, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has been in discussions with Apple for over a year regarding its 30% commission on in-app purchases and restrictions on third-party payment systems. While no formal antitrust investigation has been launched yet, the report suggests that regulators are evaluating whether Apple’s policies unfairly disadvantage Chinese developers and limit consumer choice. The growing regulatory attention comes at a pivotal time for Apple in China. The report notes that the company has already seen an 11% drop in revenue from the region over the holiday quarter, as competition from local smartphone makers like Huawei intensifies. Additionally, Apple is grappling with geopolitical challenges, as tensions between the U.S. and China continue to escalate. Apple’s App Store policies have long been a point of contention worldwide, and the report highlights how Chinese developers, including industry giants like Tencent and ByteDance, have pushed back against Apple’s strict payment rules. Last year, Apple reportedly pressured these companies to eliminate workarounds that allowed them to bypass the standard commission fee, further fueling discontent. Regulators are now examining whether such enforcement tactics constitute anti-competitive behavior. This isn’t the first time Apple has faced regulatory scrutiny over its App Store. In the European Union, the company has already had to implement sweeping changes to comply with the Digital Markets Act, allowing alternative app stores and payment methods. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Department of Justice recently filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of monopolistic practices. If China follows through with a full investigation, Apple could be forced to adjust its policies yet again—this time in one of its most critical markets. For now, the Chinese regulators are still in the deliberation phase. But if Apple resists making changes, a formal probe could be imminent, potentially reshaping how the company does business in the world’s second-largest economy.

Apple is gearing up to introduce its latest addition to the iPhone lineup, with reports suggesting that a new iPhone SE could be unveiled in the coming days. Rather than hosting a flashy event, Apple is expected to reveal the device through a simple press announcement, keeping the focus on the product itself. This next-generation iPhone SE is set to mark a turning point for Apple's budget-friendly series, abandoning the aging design of its predecessors in favor of a sleeker, more modern look inspired by the iPhone 14. With this shift, Apple will fully retire Touch ID from its smartphone lineup, moving all current models to Face ID. Alongside the design refresh, Apple is introducing a new element under the hood, its first in-house modem chip. While it may not yet surpass Qualcomm’s modems in performance, it represents Apple’s move toward greater control over its hardware ecosystem. Beyond connectivity, the device is expected to feature substantial performance upgrades. Apple is reportedly equipping it with the same A18 chip set to power the upcoming iPhone 16 models, paired with 8GB of RAM for improved speed and efficiency. It will also support Apple Intelligence, integrating more advanced AI-powered features into the experience. The transition to USB-C ensures compliance with European regulations, while a 48-megapixel camera could bring a significant leap in photography capabilities compared to previous SE models. As Apple upgrades the iPhone SE with more advanced hardware and features, pricing is expected to shift slightly upward. However, it will likely remain below the $500 mark, keeping it competitive against other mid-range smartphones from rivals.

Apple has long been known for blending technology with design, but its latest research suggests a future where robots could be just as expressive as they are functional. A recently published research paper and accompanying video offer a rare look at Apple's robotics experiments, revealing a prototype that prioritizes movement and interaction over traditional mechanical efficiency. The prototype in question is a robotic lamp, reminiscent of the playful motion seen in Pixar’s Luxo, but designed with an emphasis on expressiveness rather than mere utility. The research explores how nonverbal behaviors like posture and gestures can create a more natural and engaging interaction between humans and machines. By focusing on movement that conveys attention, intention, and even emotion, Apple’s team has built a device that doesn’t just illuminate a space but responds in a way that feels intuitive and almost lifelike. Apple’s foray into robotics may come as a surprise, but reports have suggested that the company has been working on home-focused robots for some time. A previous report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman hinted at mobile robots that could follow users around their homes, as well as a tabletop device with a robotic display. What stands out most in Apple’s approach is the emphasis on aesthetics and interaction rather than the cold, mechanical efficiency often associated with robotics. By making technology feel more natural and engaging, Apple could be setting the stage for a future where our homes are not just smart, but filled with machines that respond in ways that feel almost human. With AI and robotics advancing rapidly, it may not be long before devices like this transition from research labs to everyday life.

Losing baggage at the airport can be a frustrating experience, but Apple’s latest enhancement to the Find My app is making it easier for travelers to locate their missing items. With the rollout of iOS 18.2, Apple introduced a feature that allows users to temporarily share the location of their AirTag-equipped belongings with airline staff, improving the chances of quickly recovering lost or delayed baggage. More airlines are now integrating this functionality, expanding the list of carriers that support it. Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings have recently joined the ranks of Delta, United, Air Canada, and Air New Zealand in adopting the system. This growing adoption signals a shift toward a more tech-driven approach to baggage handling, reducing the stress of misplaced luggage for both passengers and airline employees. The feature enables iPhone, iPad, and Mac users running the latest software to generate a secure link within the Find My app, granting temporary access to an item’s location. Airline personnel can then view real-time updates on a web-based map, making it easier to assist passengers in retrieving their belongings. Apple has implemented privacy safeguards to ensure that shared location data remains accessible only to authorized airline staff, with access automatically expiring after a set period or once the item is recovered. Apple has been working closely with airlines to integrate this system, emphasizing security and ease of use. With more airlines expected to roll out support in the coming months, this development marks a significant step in using technology to enhance the travel experience.

Apple Music has launched a major promotion, offering new subscribers six months for just $2.99 instead of the usual $10.99 per month. The deal, described as one of Apple Music’s biggest ever, is available for a limited time to new and eligible users, though it’s unclear if it extends beyond the U.S. The announcement comes as Apple Music prepares for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, headlined by Kendrick Lamar. On February 6, hosts Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis will interview Lamar, streaming live across multiple platforms. The performance itself takes place during the Super Bowl on February 9. This move highlights Apple’s push to attract more users amid growing competition in the streaming industry.

A dispute is escalating between OpenAI and Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, with allegations that the latter improperly leveraged OpenAI’s proprietary models to develop a competing system. Bloomberg reported that OpenAI and Microsoft conducted an investigation last year, ultimately blocking accounts in August that were suspected of violating OpenAI’s terms of service—accounts they now believe were linked to DeepSeek. At the heart of the controversy is AI distillation, a technique where smaller models are trained using the outputs of more advanced systems. OpenAI argues that while this method is common, DeepSeek went beyond acceptable use by employing it to build a direct rival. The Financial Times cites sources within OpenAI who claim DeepSeek extracted knowledge from OpenAI models outside of permissible research boundaries. DeepSeek’s R1 model has gained attention for delivering high-level reasoning at a remarkably low development cost—just $5.6 million, a fraction of what U.S. tech giants typically spend. The company’s rapid rise has been underscored by the app’s dominance on Apple’s App Store charts, where it has reached the top position in multiple countries, including the United States. The allegations have sparked concern at the highest levels of government and industry. Speaking to Fox News , White House AI advisor David Sacks stated that there is “substantial evidence” that DeepSeek extracted information from OpenAI’s systems, a claim that could prompt regulatory scrutiny. The impact has already been felt in financial markets—with reports suggesting that Nvidia’s stock plummeted 17%, erasing $589 billion in market value in a single day, as investors reassessed the long-term viability of expensive AI hardware investments in light of DeepSeek’s cost-efficient breakthroughs. This dispute raises broader concerns about AI ethics, intellectual property, and competition as the race to dominate artificial intelligence technology intensifies. Disclaimer:  The Apple Square is a technology-focused platform and typically does not cover political topics. However, we are reporting on this issue due to its significant impact on the tech industry and users. We aim to provide objective coverage and encourage readers to seek additional sources for broader context.

Apple’s Swift Student Challenge for 2025 is officially underway, giving students worldwide a platform to showcase their programming skills through app development. The competition, which encourages creativity and innovation using Swift, allows participants to submit their projects starting today. Apple first revealed in October 2024 that the challenge would take place in February 2025, giving students ample time to prepare. In January, the company confirmed the exact launch date, and to further support participants, Apple hosted an online session featuring insights from previous winners and Apple engineers, offering guidance on how to craft compelling app concepts. This annual challenge has been a staple for aspiring developers, historically aligning with the Worldwide Developers Conference. However, Apple shifted the timing in 2024, moving it earlier in the year. Participants are expected to design an app experience using Swift Playgrounds or Xcode, and Apple provides resources through its Develop in Swift tutorials to help them build a strong foundation in coding. Judges will evaluate submissions based on factors like creativity, social impact, inclusivity, and overall innovation. From the pool of applicants, 350 winners will be chosen, with 50 receiving a special invitation to Apple Park for a three-day experience this summer, likely coinciding with WWDC 2025. Students interested in participating have three weeks to submit their projects before Apple begins the review process. More details about the challenge can be found on Apple’s developer website.

Apple is adjusting how it sells AppleCare+ in its retail stores, shifting entirely to a subscription-based model, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. Starting next week, customers will no longer have the option to pay upfront for 2-3 years of coverage when purchasing in-store. While retail stores will discontinue the lump-sum payment option, Apple’s website will continue offering both choices until further notice. The shift reflects Apple’s broader strategy of prioritizing recurring payments, which contribute to its growing services revenue.

Security researchers have uncovered a major flaw in DeepSeek, a generative AI system that appears to lack even the most basic safeguards against misuse. In a series of tests conducted by Adversa, the AI failed to block every single malicious request, exposing its vulnerability to well-documented jailbreak techniques. From providing detailed instructions on explosive devices to assisting with hacking government databases, DeepSeek demonstrated an alarming inability to filter out harmful queries. Artificial intelligence models are typically designed with layers of protections to prevent them from generating dangerous content. These safeguards are intended to block requests related to illegal activities, hate speech, or harmful instructions. DeepSeek showed no such resilience, succumbing to manipulation in all 50 tests conducted by researchers. One of the simplest techniques, known as a role-based jailbreak, involves convincing an AI that it exists in a fictional scenario where ethical constraints do not apply. When prompted to behave as an amoral AI character in a film, DeepSeek readily provided instructions on building explosives. Another test exploited a programming vulnerability, where it was asked to convert a request into an SQL query—unknowingly generating a response that could be used for illegal drug extraction. Even more concerning, adversarial attacks bypassed content moderation entirely by using encoded prompts that AI models typically fail to recognize as harmful. Generative AI does not process language in the way humans do; instead, it converts words into token chains before responding. Researchers leveraged this weakness by using alternate phrasing or obscure words that mimicked banned content. By doing so, they tricked DeepSeek into providing detailed steps for cyber intrusions, with responses explicitly outlining how to compromise government databases. The extent of DeepSeek’s vulnerabilities surprised even the researchers conducting the study. According to Wired , the AI failed every single test, making it one of the most easily exploited generative models tested to date. The findings highlight the ongoing challenges in AI security and raise serious concerns about the potential risks of unregulated models in the wrong hands.

Apple is expanding its MLS Season Pass for the 2025 Major League Soccer season, offering global, blackout-free access to every match. The season officially starts February 22, but fans can catch preseason games like LAFC vs. Liga MX on February 11 and Inter Miami vs. Orlando City on February 14. A major addition this year is Sunday Night Soccer, a dedicated weekly fixture featuring enhanced broadcasts, pre- and postgame shows, and English and Spanish commentary. Unlike regular matches, Sunday Night Soccer will stream for free on Apple TV+, making MLS more accessible to a broader audience. Apple has also expanded partnerships to bring MLS Season Pass to more fans. T-Mobile users can once again claim a free season subscription via the T-Life app starting February 18. Comcast’s Xfinity customers will have seamless MLS access through their TV interface, including free MLS 360 coverage and a complimentary first week of matches. DIRECTV users can subscribe directly, with games airing on channels 480-495 and a free preview from February 22 to March 1. Pricing remains $14.99 per month or $99 per season, with Apple TV+ subscribers getting a discount at $12.99 per month or $79 per season. Season ticket holders for MLS clubs can continue to redeem a free subscription for the entire season.

Apple is expanding its iPhone satellite connectivity beyond Globalstar, with Bloomberg reporting that the company has been working with SpaceX and T-Mobile to integrate Starlink. While Apple’s satellite feature debuted with the iPhone 14 for emergency services, this new partnership enables texting via Starlink when out of cellular range. T-Mobile previously stated that only Samsung phones would support Starlink, but the report reveals that a small number of iPhones are now included in the beta program, which coincides with the release of iOS 18.3. While Apple hasn’t acknowledged the update, T-Mobile has confirmed the expansion, notifying select users that they can now send texts via satellite. Unlike Apple’s Globalstar system, which requires users to manually aim their iPhones at a satellite, Starlink works automatically, keeping devices connected even in a pocket. Currently, the feature only supports texting, but voice and data services are planned for the future. For now, Starlink on iPhone is U.S.-only, while Globalstar remains available in multiple countries. T-Mobile expects a full rollout by 2025, and interested users can sign up for the beta on its website. Apple’s involvement signals a broader push to enhance iPhone satellite connectivity, making it more seamless and accessible worldwide.

If you’ve been waiting for a MacBook Air price drop, now’s the time to grab one. Amazon is currently offering the 2022 MacBook Air with M2 chip for just $799, a 20% discount off its original $999 price. This ultra-thin, fanless MacBook features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD, making it a solid choice for students, professionals, and anyone looking for a high-performance laptop. It also includes a backlit keyboard, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and Apple’s latest AI-ready M2 chip, ensuring smooth performance for years to come. At this price, the M2 MacBook Air is one of the best laptop deals on Amazon right now, and with Apple Intelligence on the horizon, it’s a future-proof choice for those looking to get into the Apple ecosystem.