Apple has revealed the schedule for its upcoming major event, anticipated to be the launch platform for the iPhone 16.
Scheduled for Monday, September 9, the event is set with the theme “It’s Glowtime.” It will commence at 10am Pacific Time ( PT) at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park and will also be available via online stream.
The exact meaning of “glowtime” remains unclear, but the introduction of embedded artificial intelligence in the latest iPhone is highly anticipated.
During its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple introduced numerous generative AI capabilities for the iPhone.
These new features, branded under “Apple Intelligence,” range from personalized Genmoji—AI-generated emojis by Apple—to enhancements in Siri, now capable of providing updates about your schedule, the contents of your emails, and even the arrival time of a loved one’s flight.
While iPhone 15 Pro Max users might get access to some of these AI tools, the iPhone 16 is touted as the first model fully developed with AI integration from the start.
Additionally, Apple has formed a partnership with OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, who are currently navigating through their own set of challenges and scrutiny.
For years, iPhones have incorporated AI in various features, such as Live Text and an evolved autocorrect function.
The new generative AI capabilities could expand these existing features, focusing on improved interaction and personalization, and potentially marking the new iPhone as a pioneer in this integration.
However, Angelo Zino, a technology analyst from CFRA Research, suggests that expectations for the iPhone 16 should be tempered as the rollout of new AI features, including an advanced Siri, could extend into 2025.
“This is going to be more of an evolutionary process rather than a significant cyclical iPhone cycle,” Zino said.
Generative AI is known for its ability to produce text, images, and audio based on user inputs.
Experts believe Apple will focus its AI efforts through Siri, its virtual assistant, potentially enhancing its capabilities with OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT-4o model to recall past images, provide detailed information, and adapt to user preferences and traits over time.
This launch could significantly alter Apple’s strategy for the iPhone, especially with sales in China declining amid economic uncertainty and increased competition.
The pricing of the new device remains a topic of intense discussion among Apple fans and investors, with the latter favoring higher profits.
Although CFRA does not predict a significant price increase for the iPhone 16, the inclusion of advanced AI features could lead to a general price hike, according to Zino.
Meanwhile, competitors like Samsung have ventured into generative AI with features like “circle to search,” enabling quick information searches on a device using simple finger gestures.
