Apple May Release New MacBook Pro with M5 Pro & M5 Max Chips

Author

Technology Insights Daily
January 19, 2026

In partnership with

Introducing the first AI-native CRM

Connect your email, and you’ll instantly get a CRM with enriched customer insights and a platform that grows with your business.

With AI at the core, Attio lets you:

  • Prospect and route leads with research agents

  • Get real-time insights during customer calls

  • Build powerful automations for your complex workflows

Join industry leaders like Granola, Taskrabbit, Flatfile and more.

Every morning, before the headlines blur together, I ask one simple question: what actually matters today in tech?
TechnologyInsightsDaily was born from that habit—filtering the noise, spotting the signals, and sharing only what’s worth your time. From AI breakthroughs to subtle shifts in Big Tech strategy, this newsletter is my daily reflection on where technology is really heading—and why it matters to our work, investments, and everyday lives. If you like insights that feel thoughtful, not overwhelming, you’re in the right place.

Rumors are building that Apple is preparing to launch upgraded MacBook Pro models powered by its next-generation M5 Pro and M5 Max chips possibly as early as late January 2026. These chips are expected to significantly boost performance for professional tasks such as video editing, 3D graphics, and software development compared with the current base M5 models. Industry speculation points toward a January 28 announcement date, though Apple hasn’t officially confirmed it yet. The M5 Pro and M5 Max are likely to appear in both 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro variants, continuing Apple’s trend of tailoring tiers of silicon for different user needs. Compared with the already powerful M5, the Pro/Max derivatives are anticipated to deliver higher sustained CPU/GPU throughput, greater memory bandwidth, and enhanced power efficiency—features that creative professionals and “Pro” users will especially value when tackling demanding workflows.

On January 14, 2026, Verizon Communications experienced a major nationwide outage that disrupted cellular voice, text, and mobile data services across the U.S. for several hours. During the peak of the outage, many affected users of iPhones and other smartphones saw the status indicator switch to “SOS only,” meaning the device had lost normal network connectivity but could still attempt emergency calls. Reports from DownDetector showed outage complaints rising into the hundreds of thousands, indicating the incident was not limited to a single region but spanned major metropolitan markets coast to coast. Verizon acknowledged the disruption on its official channels and mobilized engineering teams to identify and fix the problem, though details on the root cause were not immediately disclosed. While service largely returned later in the evening, intermittent issues persisted for some customers. The outage raised questions about cellular network reliability and prompted discussion among regulators and consumers about infrastructure resilience and potential compensation for service lapses.

Apple has rolled out Safari Technology Preview 235, the latest experimental build of its Safari browser meant for developers and power users. This release brings a suite of bug fixes and performance enhancements across core web technologies such as CSS, HTML, JavaScript, media playback, clipboard interactions, and rendering behaviors. Safari Technology Preview exists alongside the mainstream Safari release as a platform where Apple can test forthcoming web platform improvements and gather developer feedback before wider general availability. Version 235 focuses not only on performance tweaks but also fixes several issues related to media handling and interactive features that developers rely on during testing. Because it runs independently from standard Safari, users can install Technology Preview to preview modern web standards support without disrupting their everyday browsing setup. For macOS developers and enthusiasts who follow WebKit’s evolution closely, this update represents another step toward refining Safari’s compliance and efficiency with evolving web APIs and performance expectations.

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, developed by xAI and integrated with the social platform X, has recently restricted its ability to generate images of real people wearing sexualized or revealing clothing, such as bikinis and underwear. This move comes after widespread backlash and regulatory scrutiny triggered by users uploading prompts that led to the generation of sexually suggestive or nudity-implied images, including content involving minors and adults without consent. Pressure from U.S. attorneys general, international governments, and digital rights advocates pushed X and xAI to tighten restrictions and block this type of content generation, at least on its hosted platform. The policy change applies to both paid and unpaid users in regions where local laws prohibit such outputs, and is part of a broader effort to curb unethical use of generative AI tools. Despite these new safeguards, critics argue that more robust content moderation and technical guardrails are still needed to prevent misuse and protect individual dignity.

Google’s Gemini AI has debuted a feature called Personal Intelligence designed to create a more personalized and context-aware assistant by linking the AI with a user’s own Gmail, Google Photos, Search history, and YouTube activity. This integration allows the system, once permitted by the user, to reason across an individual’s personal data to deliver proactive, relevant insights—like planning suggestions, reminders, or answer refinement based on contextual cues pulled from emails or past searches. Unlike before, when AI responses had to rely on generic data, Personal Intelligence effectively leverages the breadth of Google’s ecosystem to create a more responsive and tailored digital experience. It’s part of a broader effort to blur the line between a passive chatbot and an intelligent digital assistant. Privacy protections remain central to the rollout, emphasizing user consent before any data access.

If today’s insight sparked a thought or saved you time, that’s a win.
Subscribe to TechnologyInsightsDaily to get clear, human-first tech insights delivered straight to your inbox—every weekday.
Know someone who loves staying ahead in tech? Forward this email, share it, or invite them to join you. Small shares help this community grow, and I truly appreciate every one.
See you tomorrow đź‘‹