Apple’s AI Pivot: Still Waiting for the Plot Twist

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So, Apple (AAPL +3.12%) had a Tuesday. Up 2.26%, closing at $263.88. Apparently, someone at Wedbush decided to reiterate the “Outperform” rating – which, in Wall Street terms, is like your aunt telling you your pottery is “interesting.” They slapped a $350 target on it, which is good, because hoping for a stock to go up is basically the entire investment strategy these days. The big question, naturally, is AI. Specifically, can Apple catch up before Siri starts demanding a transfer to Google?

Trading volume hit 57.9 million shares. That’s nearly 19% above average, meaning a lot of people are either very optimistic or very bored. It’s been a wild ride since 1980, with a 205494% increase. Which, honestly, feels less like investing and more like winning the lottery repeatedly. Someone should probably check the fine print.

How the Market Did Today (or, “The Numbers Game”)

The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.10%) eked out a 0.10% gain to 6,843, and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.14%) managed a 0.14% rise to 22,578. It’s like watching paint dry, but with more anxiety. Microsoft (MSFT 1.11%) dipped 0.60% to $396.86, and Alphabet (GOOGL 1.24%) lost 1.05%, closing at $302.82. Apparently, even tech giants have bad hair days.

What This Means for Investors (or, “The AI Hype Train”)

Wedbush thinks Apple’s recent dip was “excessive.” Which is Wall Street code for, “We’re trying to talk it up before everyone panics.” They’re still betting on AI monetization by 2026, which feels… optimistic. It’s like planning a beach vacation during hurricane season. Sure, it could be amazing, but you’re probably going to end up indoors playing board games. The problem isn’t that Apple won’t do AI; it’s that they’re letting competitors define the narrative. It’s like showing up to a costume party a week late.

All eyes are now on the March 4th event. Siri updates, wearables, on-device AI… it’s all very exciting. Or, at least, it should be. The partnership with Gemini is a smart move, like bringing a backup dancer to a solo performance. But investors are looking for more than just promises. They want to see features that actually, you know, work. They need to see Apple convince everyone they haven’t outsourced their innovation to a chatbot. Because let’s be real, in this market, a compelling story only gets you so far. Eventually, you need actual, tangible results. And maybe, just maybe, a Siri that doesn’t require a therapist.

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2026-02-18 01:12