Apple must ship a breakthrough AI Siri that compels older iPhone owners to upgrade

Apple’s delayed rollout of an AI-enhanced Siri has raised the stakes for 2026, when the company now says the upgrade will arrive—potentially 21 months after its original promise. After navigating tariff threats from President Donald Trump with a high-profile pledge of U.S. investment, Apple shares rebounded, but investors are now focused on whether AI can reignite device sales. The new Siri must do more than match ChatGPT or Gemini; it needs to trigger upgrades among owners of older iPhones, especially since Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Executive departures, including AI chief John Giannandrea, underscore execution risk as rivals move quickly. Apple isn’t charging for Apple Intelligence, making hardware demand the primary lever for AI-driven revenue. With its 50th anniversary approaching, Apple has little margin for another miss, even as early gains from the iPhone 17 suggest hardware design can still move the needle.

Read more