Latest news with #AppleIntelligence
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BABA Down 8% in a Month: Will Partnership With Apple Aid Recovery?
Alibaba Group's BABA shares have lost 8.2% over the past month, underperforming the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector, thus reflecting investor uncertainty despite progress in the company's AI partnership with Apple. The Chinese e-commerce and cloud computing giant recently released versions of its Qwen3 AI models for Apple's MLX architecture, enabling compatibility with iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and Mac computers. This development represents a significant step toward bringing Apple Intelligence features to the Chinese market, though regulatory headwinds continue to cloud the partnership's future. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The technical integration of Alibaba's AI models with Apple devices marks meaningful progress in their collaboration to deliver AI-powered features to Chinese consumers. Apple Intelligence encompasses various AI tools, including Genmoji and Writing Tools, which require local partnership to comply with Chinese regulations. The partnership has gained strategic importance as Apple's iPhone sales captured the top position in China during May, with global sales rising 15% year over year in April and May according to Counterpoint Research the collaboration faces mounting pressure from U.S. officials who have been scrutinizing the arrangement. Reports indicate that White House and congressional officials are examining Apple's plans to integrate Alibaba's AI technology into iPhones sold in China, reflecting broader tensions in U.S.-China technology relations. This scrutiny introduces uncertainty about the partnership's timeline and ultimate implementation, potentially affecting both companies' strategic plans in the crucial Chinese market. Alibaba's fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results presented a mixed picture that disappointed investors. Total revenues reached RMB 236.5 billion, representing 7% year-over-year growth, though this figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.49%. The company's adjusted EBITA showed stronger performance with 36% year-over-year growth to RMB 32.6 billion, indicating operational efficiency Taobao and Tmall Group demonstrated resilience with customer management revenues growing 12% year over year, primarily driven by improved take rates. Meanwhile, the Cloud Intelligence Group accelerated growth to 18% year over year, with AI-related product revenues maintaining triple-digit growth for the seventh consecutive quarter. This cloud performance underscores the potential value of the Apple partnership, though regulatory uncertainties may limit near-term various business segments showed mixed results, with some areas like Cainiao Smart Logistics experiencing revenue declines due to operational Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings indicates a downward revision of 1.5% over the past 60 days to $10.62 per share, the market appears to be pessimistic about Alibaba's growth trajectory. Alibaba Group Holding Limited price-consensus-chart | Alibaba Group Holding Limited Quote See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news. The regulatory environment presents the most significant risk to Alibaba's growth trajectory, particularly regarding the Apple partnership. U.S. resistance toward the Apple-Alibaba AI arrangement could limit cloud revenue upside potential. This uncertainty may prompt Alibaba to delay research investments and capital spending on related infrastructure until clearer regulatory guidance company's expansion beyond China continues through partnerships like the recent GoTo Group collaboration in Indonesia, where Alibaba Cloud successfully migrated GoTo Financial's infrastructure. Such international ventures provide diversification opportunities, though they cannot fully offset challenges in core markets. Despite recent declines, Alibaba's valuation metrics suggest the stock trades at a significant discount compared to global technology peers. The stock's forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 10.61X, as compared to the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry average of 24.05X, remains compressed due to ongoing regulatory concerns and slower growth expectations. This valuation gap reflects market skepticism about Chinese technology stocks generally, though it also presents potential upside for patient investors. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Competition in China's e-commerce and cloud markets continues intensifying. Domestic rivals like JD and Pinduoduo maintain pressure on e-commerce operations, while international cloud providers like Microsoft MSFT and Amazon AMZN compete for enterprise customers. However, Alibaba's market leadership position and AI capabilities provide defensive advantages, particularly in cloud computing, where technical expertise creates meaningful barriers to company's financial position remains robust with RMB 366.4 billion in net cash, providing flexibility for strategic investments and shareholder returns. During fiscal 2025, Alibaba repurchased $11.9 billion in shares and announced $4.6 billion in dividends, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder value creation. Given current uncertainties surrounding the Apple partnership and broader regulatory environment, investors should consider maintaining existing positions while avoiding significant new investments until greater clarity emerges. The technical progress with Apple integration suggests long-term potential, but regulatory risks could delay meaningful benefits into fiscal stock's compressed valuation provides downside protection for current holders, while the company's strong cash position and improving operational metrics support a patient approach. Investors seeking new positions might benefit from waiting for the resolution of regulatory uncertainties or more attractive entry points that could emerge if partnership delays materialize. BABA stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Inc. (JD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I found a secret iPhone folder that could expose bad habits, financial info & cheating – deleting it saved my storage
YOUR smartphone is like an electronic mirror - it can reveal all sorts about who you are, who you're close to and what your interests are. But I found a secret folder recently that could expose more about me than I'd like to admit. It's quite spooky. 4 It acts as a chunky dossier of my social media scrolling, internet browsing, social life - and all my bad habits Credit: Getty Apple introduced a dedicated Screenshots album in iOS 9, all the way back in 2015. Somehow, I've only just discovered it - and with the sheer size of it, there's no wonder my storage is always full. It's tucked away in From strings of screenshots of wedding guest dresses, confirmation pages following shopping orders and ticket bookings, to (and I hate to admit this) my own bank details - this album of images is incredibly personal. It acts as a chunky dossier of my social media scrolling, internet browsing, social life - and all my bad habits. All the Instagram profiles I've screenshotted, messages I've shared for my friends to weigh in on, to my own financial information that is ripe for hackers - it's all there. Whenever you screenshot something on your iPhone, that snap is automatically transported to its own, exclusive folder. Where these images are usually camouflaged in your wider Photos album, they are truly laid bare in the Screenshots folder. I had nearly 3,700 screenshotted images inside this hidden folder - that's roughly 2GB in storage. You might even be able to call me a digital hoarder - an emerging "dark side of technology" which can fuel anxiety and stress levels, according to a recent Apple shows you tips and tricks on the new Iphone 16e with Apple Intelligence But doing so is not only eating into my storage, it poses a huge security risk too. Interestingly, considering how much it reveals about me, this sneaky folder may even be used to 4 While you may find it hard to let go of some images - 'just in case' you might need them later - remember that some of these screenshots may pose a security risk Credit: Getty Save storage By deleting all my screenshots - spanning nearly a decade - I managed to Unlike your main photo library, the Screenshots album gives you the option to Select All - so deleting every snap in one swoop is easy. If you want to wipe all screenshots, tap Select in the top-right, then hit Select All in the top-left. Once everything's highlighted, tap the bin icon and confirm. While you may find it hard to let go of some images - 'just in case' you might need them later - remember that some of these screenshots may pose a security risk. Where is the Screenshots folder? Apple's Photos app automatically puts all your screenshots in a dedicated album - all you need to do is locate it. Here's how: Open the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down, and you will see a Media Types section. Tap it. Select Screenshots to see them all in one spot. If you're on iOS 17, make sure you're in the Albums tab. Then, scroll down to find the Screenshots folder. Alternatively, Apple may keep it in your Pinned Collections. Simply scroll along pass your Favourites and Recently Saved albums to find Screenshots. Image credit: Apple 4 Some screenshots may expose sensitive information, such as financial details or passwords Credit: Getty Security risk If you're an avid online shopper or digital banking user like me, then your screenshots could pose a security risk for your accounts. Some snaps may expose sensitive information, such as financial details or passwords. Even information that could be used for phishing scams, such as my name, email and postal address, can be in these screenshots. This is yet another reason to let go of those pesky screenshots you never revisit or reopen. Now, here's the part some people miss. When you delete a screenshot - or any image for that matter - it's not fully gone. The image quietly moves to the Recently Deleted album for up to 30 days before it is automatically removed. If you want it gone for good - and you want to free up space immediately - then go into the Recently Deleted album, select the screenshots again, and hit Delete . 4 This hidden folder could be an obscure but easy way to catch out a cheater Credit: Getty Caught out Now, I know that you could learn a lot about me from my Screenshots folder - meaning you could probably extract a lot of information about someone else from theirs. This hidden folder, therefore, could be an obscure but easy way to catch out a cheater. Anyone can delete texts or WhatsApp messages - however, there might be a trace of infidelity hidden in their screenshots. Be it from screenshots of someone's recent Instagram photo, or perhaps confirmation of a dinner reservation you weren't privy to. Four red flags your partner is cheating Private Investigator Aaron Bond from BondRees revealed four warning signs your partner might be cheating. They start to take their phone everywhere with them In close relationships, it's normal to know each other's passwords and use each other's phones, if their phone habits change then they may be hiding something. "You should also look at how they place their phone down when not in use. If they face the phone with the screen facing down, then they could be hiding something." They start telling you less about their day When partners cheat they can start to avoid you, this could be down to them feeling guilty or because it makes it easier for them to lie to you. "If you feel like your partner has suddenly begun to avoid you and they don't want to do things with you any more or they stop telling you about their day then this is another red flag." "Partners often avoid their spouses or tell them less about their day because cheating can be tough, remembering all of your lies is impossible and it's an easy way to get caught out," says Aaron. Their libido changes Your partner's libido can change for a range of reasons so it may not be a sure sign of cheating but it can be a red flag according to Aaron. Aaron says: "Cheaters often have less sex at home because they are cheating, but on occasions, they may also have more sex at home, this is because they feel guilty and use this increase in sex to hide their cheating. You may also find that your partner will start to introduce new things into your sex life that weren't there before." They become negative towards you Cheaters know that cheating is wrong and to them, it will feel good, this can cause tension and anxiety within themselves which they will need to justify. "To get rid of the tension they feel inside they will try to convince themselves that you are the problem and they will become critical of you out of nowhere. Maybe you haven't walked the dog that day, put the dishes away or read a book to your children before bedtime. A small problem like this can now feel like a big deal and if you experience this your partner could be cheating," warns Aaron.
CNET
21 hours ago
- CNET
iPhone 'Flip': The Apple Foldable Is Still Rumored To Come in 2026
We're half a decade into foldable phones, with plenty of devices from Samsung, Google and Motorola (as well as others from Oppo, Huawei and more) for consumers to choose between. Yet among big phone makers, only Apple still lacks one in its lineup. The latest flexible-screen devices, like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Motorola Razr Plus reboot and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold show mature designs and robust bending displays, leaving the foldables niche handily dominated by Android devices. Recurring leaks and rumors suggest Apple is still developing its own folding device, which we'll refer to it as the iPhone Flip until a proper name is revealed. The iPhone 16 series launched in September 2024 with an AI camera button and AI features in iOS 18 that are still rolling out, and the more affordable iPhone 16E launched with Apple's first in-house modem. Still, we've yet to see any official word on a foldable iPhone. Apple's recent focus has been on Apple Intelligence, a suite of generative AI tools now in the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, which is also coming to updates for Apple devices in other product families. Apple might be slowly tinkering away at a folding iPhone while software and AI have taken center stage during its product showcases. Some rumors have even suggested that Apple is working on foldable displays for its other portable devices, the iPad and MacBook, though the company may have encountered obstacles. In a post on X back in September, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said challenges with folding displays have pushed back mass production of either model to 2027 or even 2028. Since other rumors have suggested the iPhone Flip could come out as early as 2026, we could see an iPhone that folds before an iPad or a MacBook with a flexible display. It's unclear if or when Apple will switch focus from AI to bring an iPhone Flip to market, though the most recent rumors suggest progress continues. A report back in July, as covered by The Verge and first reported by The Information, suggests Apple has gone all-in on a clamshell-style foldable iPhone and moved it beyond the concept stage to give it a code name, supposedly internally referring to the device as "the V68." If all goes well, the iPhone Flip could get a release date as early as 2026, the report said. The newest rumor reaffirms the possible 2026 release window for the iPhone Flip, with noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo posting on X production may kick off next year. Market rumors suggest Apple has placed orders for 15-20 million iPhones to be sold in 2026 and the following years, Kuo continued, though with many components like the hinge not yet being finalized and assembly supplier Foxconn not officially starting the project yet (they're expected to begin in the third or fourth quarter of this year), this timeline could shift. This follows Kuo's report in early March that Apple's device could launch at the end of next year and will have a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and 5.5-inch outer display -- which would make it a book-style foldable like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 rather than a clamshell foldable, as other rumors have suggested Apple was focusing on. Accordingly, Kuo believes the price would match other similar folding devices at $2,000 to $2,500. Despite that high price tag, he says projected shipments are 3 to 5 million devices initially, which is a confident estimate given only 19.3 foldables were sold in 2024, market research firm IDC reported. Now Playing: iPhone Flip: What Apple's Foldable Future Could Look Like 05:01 This reaffirms previous rumors and news. A new patent granted to Apple last July, which was applied for years ago, shows how long the company has been working on a folding iPhone, although many reports have focused on the company's struggles to eliminate the crease within the internal folding display. Creases have haunted foldable phones since they started coming out in 2020, and although the most recent Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 have reduced the crease, you can still see and feel it. Previous rumors suggested Apple had been working on iPhone Flip models in two different sizes, though there have been difficulties in making the devices to Apple's demanding standards. The company may also be working on a folding tablet with a screen around the size of an iPad Mini. Then again, we may not see an iPhone Flip for years. By mid-2024, market analysts at TrendForce estimated that issues with the display crease might push back an Apple foldable until 2027, according to 9to5Mac. Prior rumors said Apple may not launch its own flexible screen device until 2025, and Samsung hasn't let phone fans forget it by releasing an app that will let Apple phone owners experience a Z Fold-esque experience by placing two iPhones side-by-side. At the very least, an investor note seen in August suggests Apple's foldable may not reach its 2025 schedule for mass production due to display issues, according to MacRumors. Years ago in 2017, folks predicted that a foldable iPhone could launch in the then-near future of 2020 -- which didn't happen. Analysts and leakers have been kicking the release date down the road ever since, and rumors and wish lists have hung around as phone fans keep their hopes up. Absent any confirmed details from Apple, here's everything we know so far about the company's future foray into foldables. Read more: I Visited Samsung's Home Turf to See if Foldable Phones Are Really the Future Two cross-sectional illustrations of potential displays that fold around a recess where a hinge would go, in Apple's patent (No. 12,041,738). USPTO What Apple's new patent says about the iPhone Flip After years of rumors that Apple was working on foldable phones, a patent was finally granted to the company that confirmed it's been working toward a folding iPhone. The 22-page patent (PDF), simply titled "Electronic Devices With Durable Folding Displays," was filed in November 2021 and granted on July 16, 2024. Sadly for folding iPhone hopefuls, the patent doesn't offer much illumination of what an iPhone Flip might look like. Most of the pages show figures depicting cross-sections of potential displays that fold about a hinge, but not the device they're folding around. There are some tidbits deeper into the text of the patent that hint at potential design choices Apple might make, like a hinge that holds the display flat when unfolded but which would let the display "slightly fold about the bend axis when the electronic device is jolted during the drop event" -- in other words, if dropped, the device would fold inward slightly so that it lands on its edges to protect the inner display. It's important to note that all evidence shows Apple working on a foldable iPhone, but the patent broadly applies to folding displays in general -- to wit, some figure schematics describe a device that "may be a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, wrist-watch device or other wearable device, a television, a stand-alone computer display or other monitor" or screens as far-ranging as on vehicles, in kiosks, in media players or other electronic equipment. The rest of the patent describes what an Apple device with a folding display may have, and categorically lists things like batteries and wireless charging, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, LED or LCD displays, microphones and capacitive sensors, haptics and so on. There's explicit mention of a display folding 180 degrees, or fully flat, which follows most other foldables -- presumably, Apple isn't going to leapfrog the competition in following Samsung's concept displays we saw at CES that unfold nearly 360 degrees. Two foldable iPhone Flips? Foldable iPhone hopefuls will at least be encouraged that Apple seemingly continues to tinker with an iPhone Flip design. The company is said to be working on two sizes of folding iPhones: a book-style and a clamshell-style, according to an older report by The Information, although this may be countermanded by a newer report by the same site suggesting Apple had settled on the latter for a smaller device. This aligns with prior rumors hinting the iPhone Flip will be in the clamshell format like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series or Motorola Razr Plus. It sounds like Apple's been struggling to meet its high expectations: The company's design team wants the iPhone Flip to be half as thin as current iPhone models and to have displays on the outside that are visible when the device is folded shut, according to the report. Development on the iPhone Flip was halted around 2020, the older report noted, in order to focus on a new project, a folding iPad. This device would have an 8-inch display to be around the size of the iPad Mini. The foldable tablet supposedly had less strict durability and thickness requirements, as it wouldn't need to fit in pockets like an iPhone Flip. Apple was still working on ways to reduce the crease in the middle of the folding display and get the iPad to lie fully flat. Release date: The iPhone Flip launch could be in 2025... or 2027 The latest indications of an iPhone Flip release date came in June, when analyst Kuo suggested production could kick off in 2026 with phones coming out that year. This follows Kuo's earlier prediction in March that the company could release a crease-free foldable by the end of 2026. Furthermore, this would likely be a book-style foldable with a 7.8-inch internal display and 5.5-inch external screen, which is counter to other predictions anticipating a clamshell-style foldable. It's possible that these timeline predictions apply to one or the other, or due to the vague nature of rumors, even both -- that is, Apple could be working on both a book-style and clamshell style foldable, though it's less clear if release date expectations would be interchangeable or if Apple would stagger their release. It's been an open secret for years that Apple is working toward a foldable iPhone. The company has been registering patents for foldable technologies for almost a decade, and while there's no guarantee that one will come out even after all that research (remember AirPower?), there's still been buzz and possible release dates floated for years -- though still not one solid enough to get excited about. Early rumors pointed as far back as 2021 as a potential target date, but the year passed with no foldable iPhone in sight. A March 2021 report from longtime Kuo (via MacRumors) suggested 2023 might be more realistic (though that year has come and gone). According to Kuo, Apple still needs to figure out technology and mass production issues before bringing a device like this to market, hence the wait. Speculation later in 2021 from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman aligned with Kuo's predictions: In his Power On Newsletter, Gurman said that the foldable iPhone may not arrive for another two to three years. Since then, new rumors have pointed to an even later release. Reliable display analyst Ross Young said in February 2024 that the foldable iPhone had been pushed back to 2025, and Kuo reaffirmed his predicted release window in a tweet in April 2022. "Apple may launch its first foldable product in 2025 at the earliest, which may be a foldable iPad or a hybrid of iPad and iPhone," Kuo wrote in the tweet. Another rumor, first noticed by MacRumors in February of 2024 by Weibo-based blogger Fixed Focus Digital, suggested that the foldable iPhone project is delayed for the foreseeable future. The problem? Apple, which is rumored to be using Samsung folding panels for its iPhone Flip's display, was dissatisfied with the screens' performance after they broke down a few days into testing. That's echoed by the most recent estimate by TrendForce market analysts, reported in 9to5Mac, which predicted that an Apple foldable might not be released until 2027 at the earliest. Why? Apple's strict requirements for reliability and the phone display's crease. But Kuo's more recent March 2025 predictions explicitly noted a crease-free foldable display, suggesting Apple might have moved past this roadblock -- if all these rumors are to be believed, of course. Read more: Top Foldable Phones for 2024 Watch this: Foldable Phones May Be the Future. In South Korea, They're the Present 04:40 Design: What will the foldable iPhone look like? A 2021 report from Bloomberg indicated Apple already had a working prototype of a foldable iPhone display. While it wasn't a working model, it was a step up from a patent -- which, until then, was all we had seen. This illustration, according to Apple's patent filing, shows a "device that bends along a flexible portion such as a flexible seam associated with a hinge." Apple/US Patent and Trademark Office Apple seems to have taken out every patent under the sun when it comes to foldable displays, including an origami-style folding display, a flip-up display and even a wraparound display. We don't know which one will make the final cut, but both Kuo and Bloomberg seem to agree that the current prototype is more of a traditional fold-out design. Unlike Microsoft's Surface Duo, which has hinges on the exterior, Apple's would have one continuous display with a hidden hinge mechanism like the Galaxy Fold. Apple leaker Jon Prosser reported in early 2021 that the iPhone Flip will likely use a clamshell design and come in several "fun colors." Between the bright pastels of the iPhone 15 and Plus and the sleeker deep blue of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, an array of fun colors for Apple's first foldable device is definitely a possibility. YouTuber ConceptsiPhone also gave us a glimpse into what the iPhone Flip could look with concept art of the foldable iPhone in the colors blue, red, gold and green. In March 2025, analyst Kuo had some very specific but non-clamshell predictions: that Apple would release a book-style foldable with a 5.5-inch outer screen that unfolded to have a 7.8-inch internal screen, and be 4.5-4.8mm when unfolded but 9-9.5mm thick. It would have the same high-density battery cells as the "ultra-thin iPhone 17" and a hinge with stainless steel and titanium alloy (a favorite material of Apple's iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2). Per Kuo's predictions, the foldable will have two rear cameras and a front-facing camera on both the external and internal displays. Most interestingly, Kuo also expects that Apple's book-style foldable will see the return of Touch ID as a side button, as Face ID might be left out due to space constraints -- presumably for the array of depth-of-field sensors and cameras needed for the tech. Roadblocks: What still stands in Apple's way? CNET Samsung and others have been testing the waters, but Apple has been learning from the pain points of their foldable devices and figuring out how they'd be used. One of these pain points is the crease. A lot of the current cover materials, including the glass and plastic mix that Samsung uses for the Z Fold and Z Flip, show a visible crease when folded out to full screen. To avoid it, Apple would likely have to wait for Corning, Apple's glass provider, to create some kind of bendable version of its Ceramic Shield screen. The company is already working on a bendable glass but hasn't announced a launch date for it. Kuo tweeted in April 2022 that Apple was testing a foldable OLED screen. Korean tech news site The Elec also reported that Apple was working with LG to develop a foldable OLED panel. Cost: Foldable phones don't come cheap Price is another major problem for these types of devices. Although Samsung still has the most affordable folding phone with the clamshell Z Flip 5 at $999, most others in the category are book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Pixel Fold, which are around twice the price of most flagship phones. We wouldn't expect a foldable iPhone to be cheaper than its rivals. Apple's foldable needs to be in line with current foldable and nonfoldable models to be able to compete against other brands and entice iPhone users to ditch their single-screen devices and pay more for a foldable. A report last year found that half of American consumers are interested in buying a foldable phone, though Apple customers are slightly less willing to make the leap than Samsung or LG users. Perhaps the "Apple effect" will change those stats if and when a foldable iPhone ever becomes a reality. For more, check out all of the models in the iPhone 15 line. You can also see the most exciting phones to look out for in 2024.
India Today
21 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
iPhone 16 price drops by Rs 8,410
iPhone 16 price drops by Rs 8,410 By Ankita Garg The iPhone 16 is selling on Vijay Sales at the lowest price yet. The device's price has dropped on the platform by Rs 8,410, which is without any terms or conditions. Here are the details. Vijay Sales is currently selling the new iPhone 16 model at a discounted price of Rs 71,490 (white, green, black and blue colours). This is down from its original launch price of Rs 79,900. This means that you are getting a flat discount of Rs 8,410. There is also Rs 4,000 discount on the ICICI, Kotak, and axis bank cards, which will effectively reduce the price to Rs 67,490. This is a great iPhone 16 deal and will likely expire soon. Hence, people looking to buy this device shouldn't take longer to get one. The iPhone 16 comes equipped with Apple Intelligence features, integrating AI-based capabilities for a smoother user experience. Powered by the latest A18 chip with a 5-core GPU, it delivers better speed and performance. The device features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display for vivid colors and high contrast. The rear camera system includes a 48MP Main and 12MP Ultra-Wide rear camera. The 12MP front camera supports high-quality selfies and FaceTime calls. The iPhone 16 is IP68-rated, offering splash, water, and dust resistance for added durability.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Apple's AI Approach: Innovation, Criticism, And The Road Ahead
Apple Intelligence, Apple's AI strategy, moves forward with app innovation despite criticism. At WWDC in 2024, Apple rolled out its AI strategy and named it Apple Intelligence. It was an optimistic vision that created many expectations. However, Apple has received a great deal of criticism over the last year since its original launch, as the perception is that it overpromised and underdelivered on its AI strategy. Apple's AI strategy is criticized for its late entry, limited cloud capabilities, and overemphasis on on-device processing. Critics argue Apple has lagged behind leaders like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft in foundational AI research and large language model (LLM) development. Instead of building a strong AI platform early, Apple focused on privacy and hardware, leaving it reliant on partnerships—like integrating ChatGPT into Siri. Skeptics also point to Apple's insistence on running AI models mostly on-device. While this approach protects privacy and improves speed, it limits the scale and complexity of AI features compared to cloud-based systems. Some developers and analysts believe this restricts Apple's ability to deliver truly transformative AI experiences. At this year's WWDC in early June, Apple acknowledged that many of the things promised in the 2024 Apple Intelligence launch are behind. Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, stated, "We're continuing our work to deliver the features that make Siri even more personal. This work needed more time to reach our high-quality bar, and we look forward to sharing more about it in the coming year." Open AI, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and players have their own LLM engines. But Apple needed to partner with and use a third party to help deliver AI integration to their OS and apps. In this case, they partnered with Open AI and ChatGPT to add AI to MacOS and iOS. When this was originally announced, this was an ambitious undertaking. Google's ownership of the Gemini LLM meant that they could, from the ground up, integrate AI into Android at a granular level. It has given Android a leg up regarding AI integration into a mobile OS. While this may be a better approach, Apple has done one thing that I find interesting. At least in the short term, they are AI-enabling their own apps. Apple has integrated its AI, Apple Intelligence, into several of its apps. Here are some key examples: Apple is also allowing other apps to utilize the on-device AI model at the core of Apple Intelligence. Their rifle-shot approach to AI in their apps is important, but given that AI has a global reach on data, the criticism that it limits the scale and complexity of AI features compared to cloud-based systems is legitimate. This has led some analysts and media to suggest that Apple needs to acquire one of the existing LLM companies to help deal with this global AI scaling. While that is an interesting idea, I don't see that happening. Apple is getting better at using existing LLM partnerships and this approach. In the process, I believe they are working on their own home-grown LLMs to give them the control they need to keep their customers' data private and give them the kind of privacy Apple excels at with its products. In a great analysis of Apple's AI strategy, Ed Handy, writing in the Cult of Mac, argues that Apple's slow rollout is not a crisis. He suggests that- "Apple isn't leading in AI — and most users won't notice Artificial intelligence is the hot technology of the 2020s, and Apple is far from the forefront in its development. OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot makes Apple's Siri seem like a high school science project. Google Gemini creates pictures that make anything from Apple's Image Playground look laughable. The AI-enhanced version of Siri won't reach customers until a year after Apple initially expected. None of that matters, though. Not really. Let's take a look at Google's Android operating system to see why. Android got out ahead of iPhone with integrated AI features, but it didn't make users happier. The most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index survey indicates that Samsung users are 1% less pleased with their Android-powered smartphones than they were a year ago. Satisfaction with Google and Motorola Androids both decreased by 3%. But the survey also found that iPhone users are 1% less satisfied. What this means is that cool new AI features, or the lack thereof, have no effect on what typical users think of their phones." As one who has tracked Apple for over 40 years, I can attest that Apple marches to the beat of its own drum. And the way they deliver their Apple Intelligence is not influenced by outside criticism. Apple has historically excelled at creating new products and services. While some of the criticism has merit, Apple's approach to AI-enabling its apps is still a solid strategy with room for much innovation over time. Disclosure: Google, Meta, Samsung, Microsoft and Apple subscribe to Creative Strategies research reports along with many other high tech companies around the world.
