It’s been a wild week for Apple. After announcing a slew of new hardware, the company capped things off with its cheapest laptop ever: the $599 MacBook Neo. It’s low on specs, but high on character and value. In this episode, Devindra and Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham dive into the MacBook Neo, as well as the refreshed MacBook Air M5, MacBook Pro M5 Pro/Max, iPad Air M4 and iPhone 17e.

Also, Devindra chats with Spencer Ackerman, author of Forever Wars and recent Iron Man comics, about the ongoing battle between Anthropic and the Department of Defense. It turns out the DOD still used Claude for attacks on Iran, after banning Anthropic’/s AI last week. And really, what do these AI companies expect to happen when they jump at military contracts?

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Topic

• Apple announces a the MacBook Neo priced at $599 and it’s shockingly great – 0:53

• MacBook Air got the M5, MacBook Pro got the M5 Pro and M5 Max, and who needs the new iPad Air now? – 22:31

• Anthropic vs. DoD with Spencer Ackerman, author of The Forever Wars – 30:34

• Gemini encouraged a man to end his own life to be with his ‘AI wife’ – 58:53

• Polymarket nixes bets on nuclear detonation after public outcry – 1:01:55

• No Yōtei on PC: Sony closes down first party titles outside of PS5 – 1:03:56

• Wildlight Studios’ Highguard shuts down after 46 days live – 1:08:23

• Working on: Dell’s XPS 14 will be great when the keyboard fix comes through – 1:15:09

• Pop culture picks – 1:15:58

Credits

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham
Guest: Spencer Ackerman
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien