This week on AI: Apple headphone struggles, cheaper HomePods, labor rights & more

By Roger Fingas

Apple could make a further push into audio products later this year, assuming rumors and development pan out. It meanwhile turns out the company has plenty of work to do in cleaning up abuses in its supply chain.

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A roundup of all of our hottest stories this week:

New Apple headphone project possibly hampered by multiple re-designs, coming no earlier than holiday 2018Rumor: Apple working on cheaper HomePod for launch this yearApple Supplier Responsibility Report reveals uptick in violations, announces new women's health programApple axed 10 smelters and refiners from supply chain in 2017, maintains 100 percent participation in conflict mineral auditGrayshift becomes second service to promise forensic unlocks for Apple's iPhone 8 & XApple reportedly interested in streaming shows produced by Barack ObamaSupply chain makes claim that Apple is already planning to ditch the iPhone X notch in fall 2019 releasesIreland picks Bank of New York Mellon to hold Apple's $18.6B tax payment in escrowApple's Face ID-equipped iPad Pros likely ready for production, shipping late next quarterApple VCSEL supplier suggests TrueDepth coming to multiple iPhones this fallApple slapped with patent suit over Siri's natural language abilities