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Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
OpenAI GPT-5 is coming early next month
OpenAI is expected to release its next big model — GPT-5 — in August, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The race to create the biggest and best AI models is accelerating as the Trump administration has said the U.S. must do " whatever it takes" to beat China. The big picture: GPT-5 was expected earlier, but OpenAI's release plan has shifted several times. CEO Sam Altman posted on X on July 19 that GPT-5 would be released "soon." Then Altman appeared July 23 on Theo Von's podcast, where he praised the abilities of the new model. GPT-5 use is already cropping up in the wild, as testers get their hands on the code and security experts do their red teaming — additional signs that the model is getting close to release. Between the lines: In addition to being better at coding and more powerful overall, GPT-5 is expected to combine the attributes of both traditional models and so-called reasoning models such as o3. Altman clarified that the model OpenAI recently used to achieve gold medal performance at the recent International Mathematical Olympiad would not be included in GPT-5. OpenAI is planning to launch GPT-5 with mini and nano versions that will also be available through its API, according to The Verge, which first reported the new timeline. The intrigue: OpenAI's new open weight model is also coming soon, but could arrive before or after GPT-5 depending on last minute schedule tweaks, Axios has heard.


CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
iOS 26 Public Beta Is Here: Download Apple's Liquid Glass Update Today
If you've been itching to poke around Apple's next big iPhone update, today's your day. Apple just opened the first iOS 26 public beta (July 23) to anyone in its free Beta Software Program, letting everyday users try the new OS months before it ships alongside the iPhone 17 this fall. The public beta follows six weeks of dev-only releases, capped yesterday with developer beta 4. iOS 26 is Apple's most ambitious revamp in years. The entire interface now shimmers with Liquid Glass, a translucent layer that morphs as you scroll, and an updated Apple Intelligence powers live call translation and a souped-up Visual Intelligence search. You'll also see other perks like call screening and personalized text message chats. Before you download, double-check your hardware: iOS 26 needs at least an A13 Bionic chip, so only the iPhone 11 model and newer qualify. Apple Intelligence features stay exclusive to the iPhone 16 line and iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Also remember that it's still beta software. Expect bugs, battery dips and the occasional app crash. You should definitely back up your phone first (better yet, create an archive on your computer), consider installing on a spare device and keep your computer nearby in case you need to roll back to iOS 18. If that sounds good, here's how to install the iOS 26 public beta. Don't miss: Revert Back to iOS 18 From iOS 26 Beta: The No-Stress, Step-by-Step Guide How to download the iOS 26 public beta on your iPhone As long as you know the risks and have backed up your phone, you can download the iOS 26 public beta. Here's what you need to do: 1. Enroll in Apple's Beta Software Program On the iPhone you want to update, open Safari and visit Sign in with your Apple ID. If you're new to the program, tap Sign Up and follow the prompts to accept Apple's beta agreement. 2. Sign up for the iOS 26 public beta After signing in, choose iOS at the top of the page. You'll land on a dashboard with details about the iOS 26 public beta. Under Get Started, tap Enroll your iOS device. Because Apple now handles betas directly in Settings (no more configuration profiles), all you need to do is link your Apple ID and you're good to go. 3. Enable beta updates On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates. Choose iOS 26 Public Beta from the list. 4. Download and install iOS 26 beta Now, return to Settings > General > Software Update. The iOS 26 public beta should appear. Tap Download and Install and follow the on-screen instructions. Keep your phone on Wi-Fi and plugged in during the update. Once your iPhone reboots, you'll be running the latest iOS 26 public beta—complete with the new Liquid Glass interface and (if your hardware supports it) Apple Intelligence features.


CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
The First iOS 26 Public Beta Is Here, But Think Twice About Installing It Now
Now that the iOS 26 public beta is now available, you may be itching to install it on your iPhone and start to experience the new Liquid Glass interface, live translation and other features coming in the fall. But I'm going to be the annoying voice of reason for a moment and encourage you to hold off for now -- or at least make sure you're loading it on a test device. The "beta" in "public beta" is there for a reason. Prerelease software is unfinished, and even though a public beta means Apple is confident enough to seed it on several thousand iPhones, the goal is to see how the update fares before it's deployed on millions of iPhones. Although the iOS 26 developer beta has been pretty stable, one never knows what bugs could slip through. For more on what iOS 26 brings to the iPhone, make sure you check out everything Apple announced at WWDC 2025. I'm Impressed With iOS 26. Apple Just Made iPhones Better I'm Impressed With iOS 26. Apple Just Made iPhones Better Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 5:40 Loaded : 10.49% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 5:40 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. I'm Impressed With iOS 26. Apple Just Made iPhones Better A positive word about installing the iOS 26 public beta The public beta is more stable than the developer betas, which are intended for developers who need to skirt the edges of stability to test their products. But "more stable" isn't the same as "rock solid." Apple is still adding and changing features in the iOS 26 betas before the anticipated release of iOS 26 in September or October. If you decide to install the iOS 26 public beta, I recommend doing it on a separate iPhone that isn't used as your main personal phone. iOS 26 will work with models as old as the iPhone 11, so reach into the back of your tech drawer and put that forgotten iPhone into service. Also, as always, make sure you have good backups of your data. Bugs are part of the iOS 26 public beta Now, let's discuss why upgrading to the iOS public beta might be a bad idea. Software bugs at the development stage are to be expected -- in fact, that's kinda the point. Now is the time for bugs to skitter into the light so developers can catch them and Apple can fix them before the final release. Opening the public beta to more testers helps flush out odd interactions with a much larger pool of iPhones and third-party apps. Bugs can vary across the spectrum. You could face connectivity issues with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or end up with third-party applications crashing from time to time. And runaway background processes could keep the system running hotter than normal, decreasing not just how long the phone operates on a battery charge, but potentially stressing the battery's lifespan. To be fair, I've never dealt with any show-stopping, brick-your-phone bugs in a beta -- usually, they're a series of annoyances that can grate on you after a while. But all of this is perfectly normal in developer and public betas. But if you don't want to deal with bugs and other issues that could make your phone more difficult to use, you probably don't want the iOS 26 public beta on your primary iPhone. Your battery life may worsen Did you recently buy a recommended portable charger for your iPhone? Expect to make more use of it while running beta software. Energy efficiency is usually the last thing Apple's developers optimize, because the priority at this point is to make sure features work and bugs are stamped out. An iOS update also triggers a host of internal indexing, which consumes a lot of energy for a few hours or days after installation. The Photos app, for example, updates its database of recognized people, scans images for new recognizable objects or scenes for search purposes and looks for duplicates. Betas can be tough on batteries. CNET Performance may take a hit Partially because of the reindexing of gigabytes of data on your phone, the iOS 26 public beta will almost certainly not deliver the performance you might be expecting. Processor-intensive apps and games also need to be tuned to work with the new iOS, so stutters and glitches are normal. Game Mode can improve performance in demanding games but beta software could interrupt such low-level processes. Jeff Carlson/CNET I know it's tough to be patient when future features are just a download away. But I also don't want you to be burned (as I have in the past). For more about iOS 26, see how the new Liquid Glass interface compares to iOS 18.