Another highlight of iOS 26 is Visual Intelligence, an AI feature that understands the content displayed on your screen. Want to track down that restaurant your friend messaged you about? With Visual Intelligence, you can simply text and let your iPhone pull up relevant -What it does
On screen search – The system recognizes text, images and other elements and lets you perform contextual searches without switching apps.
Smart suggestions – When you receive an invitation or flight information, iOS 26 suggests adding it to your calendar or wallet.
Privacy by design – All analysis happens on your device, keeping your information secure.
Everyday use cases
Visual Intelligence is a time saver. You might highlight a tracking number and have the system provide real time shipping updates. Or you could quickly schedule meetings from chat messages. By reducing copy and paste friction, iOS 26 feels more intuitive and helpful.
iOS 26 is infused with a suite of AI-powered features under the umbrella of Apple Intelligence. One of the standout additions is Live Translation, which provides real time translation of both text and audio within Messages, FaceTime and the Phone app. Because translations happen on device, your conversations remain private.
Key features
Live Translation – Translate conversations as you speak or type across multiple apps. The system can show both languages side by side, making it easy to follow along.
Visual Intelligence – Point your camera at text on screen or copy content from an app, and iOS will recognize it and suggest actions like adding events to your calendar
Genmoji and Image Playground – Create custom emojis and images using AI, injecting personality into your messages
Why it matters
By bringing translation and other AI features on?device, Apple reduces reliance on the cloud and protects user privacy. These tools could make traveling or working with international partners much smoother. Together, they represent Apple’s answer to rival AI platforms, blending language, vision and creativity into the core OS.
Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 introduces a visually striking Liquid Glass design language. Instead of opaque panels, core interface elements are rendered in a translucent material that lightly reflects colors and textures from your surroundings. The result is a home and lock screen that feels almost three-dimensional, adapting to the lighting and colors of your environment.
What is Liquid Glass?
Apple describes it as a flexible material that helps apps convey more personality. Widgets and notifications appear to float above the background, and users can tint elements with custom colors. The new aesthetic hints at Apple’s long-term interest in blending digital and physical environments.
How it changes your phone
Customizable home screen – choose from themed color palettes and let accent colors bleed into widgets and icons.
Dynamic lock screen – notifications subtly reflect your wallpaper, and Live Activities appear more integrated.
Consistent design – throughout Messages, Photos and even Settings, the new translucent panels unify the look of iOS 26.
Liquid Glass is more than a visual refresh. Combined with new on-device AI features, it makes the system feel alive and personalized.
The race to dominate artificial intelligence is reshaping capital budgets at some of the world’s largest technology firms. In 2025 alone, major players spent around $155 billion on servers and data centers – a proxy for AI investment – and that figure is only expected to grow. Analysts forecast that commitments from Meta, Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft will exceed $400 billion in the coming year.
Who is spending what?
Meta has doubled its capex from a year ago, reaching roughly $30.7 billion.
Alphabet is on track to invest nearly $40 billion.
Amazon leads the pack with about $55.7 billion.
Microsoft plans to spend more than $30 billion in the current quarter.
Collectively, these commitments show that infrastructure – not flashy models – is where the next leap in AI capability will come from.
Why it matters
Expanding data centers and purchasing specialized chips is essential for training and running ever-larger AI models. Each dollar spent on GPUs, networking equipment and clean energy is an investment in future products, such as smarter assistants and more responsive services. While Apple has hinted that it will increase AI spending, it hasn’t disclosed numbers. For consumers, this arms race could translate into more capable devices and services in the next few years.
Last night was another fantastic evening at the Laborie Wine Club, hosted at the inviting Farm Grocer at Laborie Estate. Each month, usually on the last Thursday, Laborie Estate brings together wine lovers for a relaxed evening filled with laughter, learning, and, of course, wonderful wine tastings. If you haven’t attended one yet, you’re missing out!
Laborie Estate, nestled in the beautiful Paarl Valley, is known for its picturesque surroundings, historical charm, and warm hospitality. Established in 1691, the estate offers not only exceptional wine experiences but also beautiful accommodations, excellent dining options, and various events throughout the year.
The Laborie Wine Club is a special highlight at the estate. Each month, wine enthusiasts gather to enjoy tastings presented by different wineries, offering a chance to discover new favorites and enjoy exclusive deals at the Farm Grocer. For details on upcoming events, be sure to visit their upcoming events page.
This month’s featured winery was the impressive Doran Vineyards, situated in the scenic Voor Paardeberg region. Known for its quality-focused approach and beautiful blends, Doran gave us an exciting insight into six of their standout wines.
We began our tasting journey with the Doran Sauvignon Blanc,a surprising take on this classic varietal, uniquely vibrant and refreshing, unlike typical Sauvignon Blancs I’ve tasted before.
Next up were two stunning Chenin-based whites. First, the Doran Chenin Blanc, beautifully balanced and crisp. Then came the delightful Doran Arya, a smooth blend showcasing the versatility and elegance of Chenin Blanc.
As we moved into the reds, we experienced the charming and approachable Doran Romy D,a wonderfully structured red blend perfect for easy enjoyment. Following this was the Doran Iosa, a robust yet elegant blend showcasing the richness of their vineyard.
My personal highlight was undoubtedly the Doran Pinotage, rich and deeply flavorful, with just the right balance between fruit and depth. I couldn’t resist taking home two bottles to savor later!
These evenings at Laborie Wine Club truly offer something special. Beyond fantastic wines, there’s an unmatched atmosphere of warmth, great conversation, and genuine camaraderie among fellow wine enthusiasts.
If you love discovering great wines, enjoying excellent company, and experiencing an evening filled with fun and friendship, do yourself a favor and check out the next Laborie Wine Club evening,typically held on the last Thursday of every month. Plus, the Farm Grocer offers some fantastic wine specials on these nights!
Explore more about Doran Vineyards and their wonderful wines:
