Apple has officially announced the date for its next major event, where the much-anticipated iPhone 16 with AI features is expected to launch. Scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2024, the tech giant will host a special event at 10 am PT at the Steve Jobs Theatre in Apple Park. The event, tagged “It’s Glowtime,” will also be streamed online, drawing global attention as fans and industry watchers eagerly await the debut of the AI-powered iPhone 16.
While the exact meaning of “glowtime” remains unclear, embedded artificial intelligence is widely anticipated to be a key feature of the new iPhone 16. At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, the company revealed a suite of generative AI tools under the banner of “Apple Intelligence.” These include personalized Genmoji – Apple’s AI-generated emoji – and a significantly smarter Siri, capable of answering detailed questions about your schedule, emails, and even tracking the arrival time of a loved one's flight.
Although some AI features may be accessible to iPhone 15 Pro Max users, the iPhone 16 is expected to be the first device fully designed with AI at its core. During the conference, Apple also announced a new partnership with OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, further underscoring their commitment to cutting-edge AI technology.
Apple has long integrated artificial intelligence into iPhone features, such as Live Text and an improved autocorrect function. However, the iPhone 16's generative AI tools are poised to elevate these capabilities to new heights, offering enhanced interaction and personalisation. This makes the iPhone 16 the first device truly designed with advanced AI features in mind.
Despite the excitement, some analysts, like Angelo Zino of CFRA Research, are tempering expectations, suggesting that the iPhone 16's AI capabilities will evolve gradually over the coming years. For example, the AI-enhanced Siri might not reach its full potential until as late as 2025.
Generative AI enables tools to create text, images, and audio based on user prompts. Apple’s entry into this space will likely center around Siri. By integrating OpenAI's latest ChatGPT-4 model, Siri could offer users more specific information, recall old photos, and even adapt to individual preferences and personalities over time.
The launch of the AI-powered iPhone 16 could significantly shift the trajectory of Apple’s iPhone sales, especially as competition intensifies and iPhone sales in China face challenges due to economic uncertainty. One of the key questions surrounding the iPhone 16 release is its pricing. While some enthusiasts have long debated whether iPhone models should be more affordable, investors are focused on maximising profits. According to CFRA, a major price hike isn’t expected, but the inclusion of AI capabilities in the iPhone 16 could potentially lead to a broader price increase.
Apple’s competitors, such as Samsung, have already begun exploring generative AI features, like the “circle to search” function, which allows users to quickly search for information on a device’s screen with a simple gesture. However, with the launch of the AI-powered iPhone 16, Apple is poised to set a new standard in the industry, particularly with the debut of its AI-enhanced Siri and other Apple Intelligence tools.
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