Apple's AI Aspirations and Potential Impact on iPhone Sales

 

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As Apple (AAPL.O) prepares to report its earnings for the April-June quarter, analysts anticipate a decline in iPhone sales amid a slow economy, as consumers wait for the anticipated launch of a new model. In light of this, the tech giant's strategy involving artificial intelligence (AI) to fuel growth is expected to take center stage in its upcoming financial disclosure.

 

The company, renowned as the world's most valuable firm, is projected to experience a 1.6% drop in total quarterly revenue, according to Refinitiv. This would mark its steepest decline in third-quarter revenue since 2016. Notably, iPhone sales are expected to have contracted by more than 2%, as reported by 24 analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha. This contrasts with a nearly 3% increase in the same period last year and a 1.5% rise in the quarter ending in March.

 

In contrast to other tech giants like Meta Platforms (META.O), Alphabet (GOOGL.O), and Microsoft (MSFT.O), which have demonstrated resilience in their cloud businesses and witnessed an uptick in digital ad sales, Apple's performance seems to have been affected by prevailing macroeconomic conditions. Analysts point out that while Apple remains a dominant force in the smartphone industry, it is not immune to broader market trends.

 

Looking ahead to the July-September quarter, analysts suggest that the upcoming launch of the iPhone 15, with the possibility of some models featuring the more universally accepted USB-C port, may give iPhone sales a slight boost. However, expectations for this period remain mixed, and the company's focus on AI could play a pivotal role in its future trajectory.

 

Unlike other tech giants such as Alphabet and Microsoft, Apple has, until now, refrained from extensively discussing AI during its events. However, recent reports have indicated that the company has been discreetly developing its own framework for creating large language models known as "Ajax."

 

Investors and analysts alike eagerly await more insight into Apple's AI aspirations and how the technology will be integrated into its upcoming products. Although Apple traditionally does not provide quarterly guidance, market watchers hope the company will elaborate on its AI initiatives, potentially shedding light on how it aims to leverage AI to improve its offerings and bolster its market position.

 

Apple's shares have performed strongly this year, surging more than 50%, compared to the nearly 37% increase in the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC). As the earnings report approaches, all eyes are on Apple's AI strategy and how it could influence the future growth of the company.

 

Note: The rewritten article is a paraphrased version of the original article, with the essential information retained while being rephrased to avoid duplication.

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