Best AI apps for Mac

In partnership with

If you think your Mac is a great productivity tool now, wait till you see what it can do when you start really using AI apps.

Cult of Mac writer Rajesh Pandey is always on the lookout for new tools that make his workflow more efficient. In the past couple of months, he tested the latest, greatest AI-powered software — and came up with some real winners.

In his list of the seven best AI apps for Mac users, Rajesh explains what they can do and how they helped him accomplish more in less time. Maybe they can give your productivity a boost, too.

Also in this edition of The Weekender:

Apple released iOS 26.5 this week. Here are all the new features you can explore after you update. (One of the coolest is the stunning new Pride Luminance wallpaper. We’ve got some tips for how to set it up.)
Cult of Mac how-to expert D. Griffin Jones put together explainers on fixing the iPhone’s buggy autocorrect, maximizing your Home Screen by going minimal, and stopping notifications from driving you mad.
What about the next version of iOS? The latest rumors give us a great look at what’s coming later this year in iOS 27.
For a variety of reasons, the cheapest Macs are disappearing. However, we found some good deals on MacBook Pros. No telling how long the savings will last, though.
Our own Ed Hardy reviewed a luggage tracker that goes way beyond AirTag.
Got a crick in your neck from staring at your Mac all day? Grab some inspiration (and maybe some relief) with our roundup of the best ergonomic computer setups.
And finally, Cult of Mac Deals delivered some great new gadgets at big discounts this week, including a fast-charging magnetic car mount for your iPhone, Samsung SSDs that pack loads of storage into an extremely portable chassis, and a door lock that opens with a touchless scan of your hand.

Enjoy your weekend!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

Feature story

7 best AI apps for Mac (and how I actually use them)

After months of testing, these apps genuinely improved my workflow. From voice typing to organization, these are the best AI apps for Mac.

A message from MarketBeat

The Smart Money Is Already Moving

Wall Street just made a massive move into a small group of stocks tied to AI, energy, and emerging tech.

We tracked the buying and uncovered 10 names being accumulated right now.

See them inside The 10 Best Stocks to Own in 2026 report.

View the 10 Stocks

How-tos

Fed up with iPhone autocorrect? Here's how to reset it.

If your iPhone autocorrect has been especially bad lately, you’re not alone. Learn how to reset autocorrect on your iPhone really quickly.

How to set up the colorful Luminance wallpaper in iOS 26.5

The colorful Luminance Lock Screen wallpaper and watch face add beautiful color gradients to your iPhone and Apple Watch.

My top 3 tips for making an iPhone Home Screen that doesn't suck

Creating a custom, minimalist iPhone Home Screen layout that works and looks better comes down to three easy tweaks.

How you can stop the endless madness of iPhone notifications

If your phone is always blowing up with junk, you can stop notifications dead in their tracks and disable them per app.

A message from Kalshi

Trade What Happens Next

From elections and inflation to sports, tech, and more, Kalshi lets you trade on the real-world events you already follow. Buy “Yes” or “No” contracts based on what you think will happen, then earn returns if you’re right.

Pick a market, make your prediction, and put your knowledge to work.

Trade $25, Get Up to $500

_{Bonus credit varies from $15 to $500. Terms apply.}

News

Everything new in iOS 26.5: New Pride wallpapers, Apple Maps suggestions and more

iOS 26.5 adds meaningful improvements to your iPhone, from encrypted RCS messaging and smart Apple Maps suggestions to fabulous new wallpapers.

Plus, more Apple software news:

Apple plans customizable Camera app and rebuilt Siri in iOS 27

Looks like iOS 27 will bring a fully customizable Camera app, a ground-up Siri rebuild and a slew of other changes.

Plus, more Apple rumors:

The cheapest Mac versions keep disappearing

Two of the most affordable Mac variants got the ax recently. What does this mean for Apple's other low-cost models? Nothing good.

Netflix's AI experiment gives us a glimpse of Apple TV 4K’s future (we hope)

Netflix tests a powerful new AI voice search that shows just how badly the Apple TV 4K needs an upgrade. Smarter Siri could get us there.

Deals

M5 MacBook Pro loaded with RAM and storage drops to lowest price ever

An M5 MacBook Pro deal offers the lowest price ever on a model with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Save now!

Plus, more deals on Apple gear:

This fast-charging magnetic car mount keeps your iPhone icy cool

It keeps your iPhone securely mounted, actively cooled and wirelessly charged at up to 25W.

Plus, more gear from Cult of Mac Deals:

Price cut: Score a lifetime license to PDF Expert for Mac at 50% off

PDF Expert will streamline your PDF editing and management. Get a lifetime subscription to this PDF editor for Mac for less than $70.

Plus, more software from Cult of Mac Deals:

Reviews

New luggage tracker is the loudest reason to ditch AirTags for travel [Review]

We did hands-on testing of the Knog Scout Travel, a smart tracker with an 85 dB alarm for luggage tracking and protection.

Satechi adds a real-time display to its powerful desktop charger [Review]

The Satechi ChargeView 140W Desktop Charger is small but packs plenty of power, as well as a status screen and four USB-C ports.

Setups

Best ergonomic Mac setups: Comfort-first workstations done right

Stiff necks, sore wrists, aching backs, eye strain — take notes on the best ergonomic Mac setups to avoid all that.