Welcome Mid September, I walked into the Apple Store on Regent Street and held the new iPhone 18 Pro. The Burgundy Red aluminium body feels noticeably more refined than the previous generation. Just as Apple released Park Chae‑young’s New Trick video—shot entirely on this phone—the upgraded 48‑megapixel variable‑aperture main camera took centre stage. In low light, the video quality is striking; even quick portrait tests by the window showed depth‑of‑field transitions so natural they rival a dedicated camera.
But beyond the camera, what matters most is what sits behind it: the 2nm A20 Pro chip, dual 16‑core Neural Engine and new VC thermal spreader. Apple calls it an “AI Super‑Power Core”—hardware built to run large models locally. With deep integrations from OpenAI, the new Siri can now orchestrate multi‑step tasks across apps from a single voice prompt. For creators, this is transformative: shoot, stabilise, denoise, subtitle and auto‑edit in minutes, all on the device, with data processed locally and privacy better protected.
Yet the wider picture is more complex. Days earlier, Sam Altman reiterated that OpenAI will not go public this year, stressing that even a small existential risk from AI is unacceptable. On one side, the world’s largest consumer‑electronics brand embeds AI into a phone you carry every day; on the other, a leading AI founder repeatedly draws a line around safety. Together, they capture our moment: rapid adoption alongside a growing trust gap.
For me, this mirrors life after summer: stepping back from constant social media, reclaiming reflection, and living with more dignity. News becomes noise; business relationships still grow through time and trust, not hype. Technology should serve that, not distract from it.
London helps. As the city moves into autumn—design festivals, open buildings, jazz, theatre—there are real places to meet, talk, and rebuild the human connections algorithms cannot manufacture. The next wave may be less about new tools and more about clear boundaries between machine and human, transparent processes, and relationships nurtured over time.
AI in your pocket is powerful. Trust in your hands is what will carry us forward. The Chinese Mid-Autumn festival is approaching, here wish you a very happy Mooncake festival ahead. 中秋节快乐！