In a surprise move, Microsoft said Monday that it is buying LinkedIn for about 26.2 billion, a deal that could bring subtle but significant changes for the professional network's more than 430 million members. LinkedIn will remain an independent unit of Microsoft. It will keep its name, and current CEO Jeff Weiner will stay on and report directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. LinkedIn lets members network with other professionals, upload their resumes, catch up on career advice and search for jobs. For Microsoft, the deal presents an opportunity to cement itself as the tech company for the world's professionals, helping them find jobs, learn new skills and do their work.

Guests and members of the media begin to arrive for the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, with the Civic Center in the background, in San Francisco, Monday, June 13, 2016.

Get ready for computers that understand how you're feeling. Amazon is working on new ways for its "Alexa" assistant to identify and respond to your emotions, a report from the MIT Technology Review said Monday. The artificially intelligent helper, which lives in devices like Amazon's Echo and Tap speakers, could soon "recognize the emotional tenor of your voice" and tweak its behavior accordingly" -- meaning, for example, that the device could know when you're ticked off and adapt its own tone accordingly. That's a pretty big deal for one reason: Humans have had to adapt to the needs of computers since they were first invented. To use a desktop computer, you had to learn how to navigate an on-screen cursor with a mouse, double-click icons to launch programs and type commands with a keyboard. We "get" them because we've used computers for so long, but there's nothing natural about tapping app icons or using your fingers to enter a web address on a mobile browser.

APPLE WILL FLAUNT its work on artificial intelligence (AI) at WWDC, which could include a smarter Siri and some machine learning tech to rival efforts from Google and Facebook. Or Tim Cook could just announce Siri for Mac OS, do a mic drop and walk offstage. Apple's efforts in AI so far have mostly revolved around Siri, which is more a virtual assistant with speech recognition capabilities than particularly advanced machine learning software. But if we know Apple, the company is working on some AI tech that will offer serious smarts hidden behind a slick visual interface. This is something that could annoy Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who has something of a negative opinion about AI and smart robots. We reckon that Apple will announce a Siri that plays well with more third-party iOS apps, and an SDK to allow developers to code Siri into their apps, expanding the use of a virtual assistant that has been a bit of a gimmick so far.

Some logistical info: You can watch the keynote on Apple's site. There are the usual Apple streaming rules: the Safari browser on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch running at least iOS 7; or a Mac running modern versions of Safari and OS X. If you are on a Windows-based PC, you'll need the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows 10.

Apple is expected to show off new abilities for its Siri digital assistant on Monday by debuting tools to let developers work with the company's artificial intelligence. Apple's iPhone sales have begun to level off and it is turning increasingly…

Apple will use its annual conference to announce plans to take on Google and Facebook in the fast-growing artificial intelligence arena, experts believe. The technology giant will also reveal a new version of its iOS software that powers the iPhone and iPad, as well as updating its MacBook laptop line, at its WWDC (worldwide developers conference) event. The conference in San Francisco on Monday will see the technology company showcase iOS 10, the latest version of the operating system that runs on iPhone and iPad. The software's virtual, voice-activated personal assistant Siri is expected to be expanded so that it works in a wider range of apps. Both Google and Facebook have already announced greater focus on their artificial intelligence products this year, with Google improving its Google Now software, while Facebook is introducing intelligent "bots" to Messenger that can understand requests and questions from users.

I got my double espresso, going to my office to check on my emails, messages, new data charts on my screen walls, remote and close friends pics, and bills to pay... Happy to see you again. What would you like to do today? Taras: You know: pay the bills, scan the news, check on new friends and past foes pics, my investments, finish my double espresso, take Buddy for a run. Then see what wify and kids want to do for the rest of the day when they wake up. Cortana: I took care of the phones, gas, electrical, internet and all the entertainment bills last night.

Apple has been working on letting Siri work directly with applications created by outside developers and hopes to have such tools ready in time for its Worldwide Developer Conference, technology publication The Information has reported,

Despite the increasing amount of time people spend on their smartphones, the app market is in a lull. Facebook, Snapchat, Uber and other big-name apps get heaps of downloads. But most everyone else is seeing demand level off. That's why appmakers are excited about Apple's expected announcement at its Worldwide Developer's Conference on Monday that apps may integrate with virtual assistant Siri. This would allow developers to build software allowing iPhone users to, say, talk to Siri to request a ride, order their meals or shop.