Is this the MacBook Neo?

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

Additionally, Devindra spoke 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 that the DOD was still using Claude for attacks against Iran after banning Anthropic AI last week. And really, what do these AI companies expect to happen when they jump against military contracts?

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Topic

• Apple Announces $599 MacBook Neo, and It’s Shockingly Awesome – 0:53

• The MacBook Air got the M5, the MacBook Pro got the M5 Pro and M5 Max, and who needs the new iPad Air now? – 10:31 p.m

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

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

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

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

• Wildlight Studios’ Highguard Stops After 46 Days Live – 1:08:23

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

• Pop Culture Picks – 1:15:58

Loans

hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham
Guest: Spencer Ackerman
Producer: Ben Elman
music: Dale North and Terence O’Brien