MEF’s Riccardo Amati shares his take on the week’s mobile and tech stories from around the world. Headlines include… Apple’s Major Siri Overhaul Delayed to Spring 2026 After Setbacks, Apple’s WWDC Unveils ‘Liquid Glass’ Design and Smarter iOS 26 Upgrades, MEF Highlights Industry Shift Toward Device-Centric Digital Identity with iOS 26 and much more… Alternatively listen On MEF Radio.
Apple’s Major Siri Overhaul Delayed to Spring 2026 After Setbacks
After many delays, Apple now plans to release its major upgrade to Siri in spring 2026 as part of iOS 26.4.
The new Siri will eventually access users’ personal data and on-screen activities to provide smarter responses.
The upgrade was postponed multiple times due to technical challenges that required rebuilding Siri’s architecture, along with internal team conflicts.
Originally announced in mid-2024, the update missed its initial fall 2024 launch and delayed other products like Apple’s smart home hub.
Leadership on Siri shifted to Mike Rockwell and Craig Federighi, while AI chief John Giannandrea lost some oversight.
Apple showed limited AI progress at its recent developer conference but remains focused on advancing AI in future products like smart glasses and conversational assistants.
Apple’s WWDC Unveils ‘Liquid Glass’ Design and Smarter iOS 26 Upgrades
Apple unveiled major software updates at its Worldwide Developers Conference, focusing on a sleek new “Liquid Glass” design and revamped mobile interfaces, signaling a fresh look for future iPhones.
While AI features remain limited, improvements across iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 enhance user experience with smarter call handling, better messaging, multitasking on iPads, and expanded app functionality.
These updates set the stage for more intuitive, connected mobile devices, preparing the ecosystem for the next generation of Apple hardware and software integration, including the upcoming 2027 iPhone anniversary model.
MEF Highlights Industry Shift Toward Device-Centric Digital Identity with iOS 26
Apple is transforming digital identity with iOS 26 by integrating government-issued IDs into iPhones and enabling secure, permission-based identity sharing across apps.
The shift moves identity verification from networks to devices, reducing onboarding friction for mobile operators and opening new opportunities in authentication, eSIM activation, and IoT security.
The Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) highlights this as a major shift toward device-centric identity, urging operators to collaborate on interoperable standards.
The Apple’s system will power wholesale, roaming, and enterprise services.
Notably, this transformation was quietly announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, reflecting an industry-wide push toward trusted, device-based authentication.
MEF sees this as a critical frontier for innovation in mobile trust, identity-as-a-service, and secure connectivity solutions.
UK Push for iPhone Backdoor Sparks Privacy Battle with WhatsApp
WhatsApp has joined legal action against the UK government’s demand that Apple create a back door to access encrypted iPhone backups, calling it a dangerous threat to user privacy.
The UK insists breaking encryption is vital to fight terrorism and child abuse, but WhatsApp warns this could weaken security for billions relying on mobile messaging apps.
If the government wins, it could force tech firms worldwide to compromise encryption, putting mobile user data and private communication at risk and potentially reshaping global standards for mobile security and privacy.
Paragon Spyware Hits Italian Press Amid Political and Security Storm
Another Italian journalist has been targeted by the spyware Paragon, according to Citizen Lab.
Ciro Pellegrino of Fanpage found his iPhone infected—just months after his editor received similar warnings from WhatsApp.
The revelations have intensified a scandal that forced Italy’s government to sever ties with Paragon. Fanpage has investigated ties between the ruling party and neo-Nazi groups.
While a parliamentary panel claims intelligence services didn’t target journalists, critics say new evidence—plus another unnamed European journalist hacked—demands a reopened probe.
Spyware, politics, and press freedom are colliding again in Italy’s mobile ecosystem.
€1B Satellite Push: Europe Builds Secure, AI-Powered Space Network
The European Space Agency is seeking €1 billion to build a next-gen satellite network with advanced military-grade imaging and AI capabilities, serving both defense and civil uses.
This constellation of 15-30 satellites will enhance Europe’s security autonomy and provide near real-time geointelligence every 30 minutes—crucial for mobile command centers, defense communications, and secure data links on the move.
The network’s integration with mobile and tactical systems will empower frontline forces and government agencies with faster, more reliable satellite data, boosting Europe’s resilience amid shifting global alliances and US budget cuts to NASA
Telcos Bet Big on AI Security to Unlock Enterprise Growth
Telecom operators are set to invest over $17 billion by 2029 in AI-driven network security to protect business customers as consumer revenues plateau, according to RCR Wireless.
The surge reflects a shift toward B2B sectors like energy, healthcare, and transport, where robust, autonomous AI systems are vital for real-time threat detection and response.
Powered by advanced agentic AI, these upgrades will secure critical data and transform telecom networks into smarter, more resilient platforms—positioning operators to win in the enterprise market.
Meta Buys Big Into Scale, Nabs CEO in $14.3B AI Power Play
After months of rumors and media leaks this week, Meta has officially finalized a $14.3 billion investment in AI startup Scale.
As part of the deal, Scale’s CEO and founder Alexandr Wang, 28, will leave the company to join Meta’s superintelligence team, while Chief Strategy Officer Jason Droege is set to become Scale’s next CEO — Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter.
Meta now owns nearly half of Scale, which provides key AI training data for Meta and others. Wang is a rising star with strong Washington ties, and other Scale employees may also move to Meta.
This bold move highlights Meta’s urgency to catch up in AI after a lukewarm response to its latest language model, signaling growing pressure to compete with Google and Microsoft.
AI Smuggling? China Reroutes Data to Malaysia to Access Nvidia Chips
Chinese AI firms are dodging U.S. chip export restrictions by physically flying hard drives loaded with AI training data to countries like Malaysia, where they rent servers equipped with Nvidia chips to run their models — the Wall Street Journal reported.
This workaround lets them sidestep the ban on buying advanced chips directly in China. Southeast Asia’s growing data-center market is becoming a key hub for this activity, as Chinese companies form local entities to reduce scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government is debating tighter controls on chip sales abroad to stop this.
This creative workaround highlights the complex global battle over AI hardware and data flow.
Huawei Founder: US Chip Bans Can’t Halt China’s AI Device Surge
Huawei’s founder said US chip bans won’t stop China’s tech rise — claiming local firms can stack and package chips to rival advanced semiconductors.
That’s Ren Zhengfei dismissing American export curbs in an interview with the People’s Daily — with US-China trade talks ongoing.
He admitted Huawei still trails in single-chip power, but said AI breakthroughs are coming through cluster computing and open-source platforms.
For the mobile ecosystem, it signals Huawei pushing deeper into AI and device integration — likely accelerating China’s shift to homegrown hardware and posing a longer-term challenge to Apple, Nvidia, and Android ecosystem dominance.
Nvidia CEO Promises to End Europe’s AI Crunch with 20 New Data Hubs
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Europe’s AI computing shortage “will be resolved” as the region rapidly scales data center capacity.
Speaking at the VivaTech conference in Paris, Huang said at least 20 AI-focused data centers—including five massive “gigafactories”—are planned, marking a tenfold increase in infrastructure over the next two years.
Key to the growth is Nvidia’s expanded partnership with French AI firm Mistral, which will deploy 18,000 Blackwell GPUs to power its first large-scale facility near Paris.
Huang emphasized Europe’s commitment to “sovereign AI” and its push for technological autonomy, with new builds also planned in the UK.
Despite McKinsey’s warnings about Europe’s limited power capacity and engineering talent, Huang promised: “Your AI shortage, your GPU shortage, will be resolved for you soon.”
AI Barbie Goes Mobile: Mattel Plugs Into the App-Powered Play Future
Barbie’s latest makeover isn’t about fashion — it’s all about smart, AI-powered play! Mattel and OpenAI have teamed up to sprinkle some smart tech magic on classic toys like Barbie and Hot Wheels, promising age-appropriate AI fun with a side of safety and privacy.
Expect some cool new AI-driven toys or digital experiences hitting the scene later this year.
The move highlights how AI is speeding into the mobile and connected world, ready to turn playtime into something a bit more futuristic (and maybe a little more chatty).
Meanwhile, OpenAI is also diving into hardware, aiming to reinvent how we interact with smart devices everywhere.
