As Apple prepares to unveil the iPhone 16 at its upcoming “It’s Glowtime” event, industry analysts are cautioning that delays with the company’s new AI platform, Apple Intelligence, could significantly impact the potential for another “supercycle” of iPhone upgrades.
When Apple first showcased Apple Intelligence at this year’s WWDC, many believed the new AI capabilities could be a major selling point for the iPhone 16, potentially convincing holdouts to upgrade their devices, similar to the impact of 5G.
However, according to a new report from Bloomberg, the slow rollout of Apple Intelligence could hamper these supercycle ambitions. While WWDC demonstrated Apple’s approach to AI, focused on improving existing experiences rather than massive language models, the reality is that many of the promised features may not be available until 2025.
Regional limitations in markets like the EU and China, as well as the lack of promised ChatGPT integration, are expected to further constrain the near-term impact of Apple Intelligence. Currently, only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models are approved to run the new AI platform.
“There’s still a lot of catching up to do,” the article notes, despite the impressive WWDC demos that wowed observers. Apple’s deliberate, user-focused approach to AI may pay dividends in the long run, but in the short term, it could dampen the iPhone 16’s ability to drive the next upgrade “supercycle.”
Nonetheless, the article suggests that Apple may be prioritizing a measured rollout of Apple Intelligence over a rushed release, as the company seeks to avoid any potential long-term adverse impacts on its bottom line. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to feature further hardware upgrades, including the introduction of the A18 Bionic chip across the entire lineup, with the Pros getting an even more powerful A18 Pro variant.
As Apple enthusiasts eagerly await the “It’s Glowtime” event, the industry will be closely watching to see how the company’s AI ambitions and the iPhone 16’s new capabilities ultimately impact consumer demand and the potential for another iPhone “supercycle.”
