Apple is set to unveil its highly anticipated iPhone 16 lineup on Monday, Sept. 9, during its annual event at its Cupertino headquarters. The keynote, led by CEO Tim Cook, is expected to introduce not only the new iPhones but also the 10th anniversary Apple Watch and updated AirPods.
While the hardware lineup is impressive, Wall Street’s focus is elsewhere—on Apple’s generative AI platform, Apple Intelligence. This AI initiative, designed for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, represents Apple’s major push into the consumer AI space. Initially, investors were concerned about the company’s delay in launching AI compared to Microsoft and Google. However, after the platform was revealed at Apple’s WWDC conference in June, the company’s stock surged by 15%, outperforming tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
Apple Intelligence is now positioned as a key feature of the new iPhones, particularly those from the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. Analysts believe this exclusivity will drive iPhone sales, with Morgan Stanley’s Erik Woodring predicting AI as a major factor in boosting the iPhone replacement cycle.
However, Apple Intelligence might be more than just a sales driver—it could shape consumer perceptions of generative AI itself.
Apple’s AI Ambitions
Apple’s upcoming event makes it clear that AI is front and center. From the tagline “It’s Glowtime” to the colorful logo reminiscent of Siri’s new look, the company is signaling a major AI focus.
The AI features Apple is integrating into its ecosystem are extensive. Users can expect tools that summarize text conversations, prioritize emails, enhance Siri’s capabilities, and offer access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Additional features like AI-powered proofreading and email optimization will also be part of the package, along with new apps developed to leverage AI through Apple’s hardware.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives forecasts that Apple’s AI integration could bring in an extra $10 billion in annual services revenue, potentially boosting the company’s market cap to $4 trillion.
Though competitors like Samsung and Google have also introduced AI in their devices, Apple’s approach seems more compelling. Its June event showcased how seamlessly AI integrates into its ecosystem, making the technology feel more personal and essential compared to the offerings from Samsung’s Galaxy AI and Google’s Gemini platform.
The AI Risk
However, Apple faces challenges in ensuring Apple Intelligence’s success. The AI needs to avoid errors like those seen in Google’s AI tools, which have been criticized for providing bizarre recommendations. More importantly, Apple must prove that its AI is something consumers will genuinely want to use, rather than just a rushed feature aimed at appeasing investors.
As Apple ventures deeper into AI, its success or failure could shape the future of generative AI for everyday consumers.