#heiseshow: Apple Experience, no AI profits yet, cookie banners

What the show covers

Three hosts, Anna Bicker, Dr. Volker Zota and Leo Becker, discuss three main topics. First, Apple's "Apple Experience" event, where new Macs were shown. Second, why AI money mostly flows to the biggest tech companies. Third, why the EU countries say no to a central way to manage cookie settings.

Apple, AI and cookies in short

Before Apple's event, many people guessed that a MacBook with a touchscreen would be shown. The show asks what Apple really announced and whether there were any surprises. The AI topic looks at a report by the chief economist of Apollo Global, a large investment firm. The cookie topic is about the pop-up boxes that ask you to accept or reject website tracking.

Key numbers and facts

• An analysis says the seven biggest US tech companies benefit most from AI spending so far.
• Microsoft offers about 60,000 employees a "golden handshake", a payment to leave the company voluntarily.
• Cookie banners have annoyed millions of internet users for years.
• The show is streamed live every Thursday at 17:00 on heise online.

Why it matters

The AI question asks whether the money from AI will ever reach the wider economy, or stay with a few giant firms. It may also affect jobs. The cookie question asks whether users could set their privacy choices once, instead of clicking on every website. The answer could change how the internet feels for everyone.

What to watch

• Whether the MacBook with a touchscreen is really coming, and how good the new Macs are.
• Whether AI profits spread beyond the largest tech companies.
• Whether the EU countries change their position on a central cookie setting.
• Whether cookie banners will ever go away.