Apple’s AI Gambit: A Slow and Steady Sort of Miracle

Now, Apple, you see, is a curious beast amongst these tech titans. Most are all fuss and feathers about the software, the bits and bytes flitting about in the ether. Apple, though, she’s always been a creature of substance – metal and glass, a proper thing you can hold in your hand. They make a fine machine, a Mac or an iPhone, and folks seem mighty fond of ’em. It’s a strange sort of success, buildin’ things people actually want, instead of just what they’re told they need.

Microsoft, bless their heart, has been chasin’ after the ghost of software for longer than I care to remember. They build the operating system, then leave it to others to furnish the parlor. Apple, though, she builds the whole house, right down to the doorknob. And it’s no wonder, then, that they’ve been a bit slow gettin’ into this newfangled “artificial intelligence” racket. They were busy makin’ things that worked, while others were dreamin’ of machines that could think.

But don’t you go countin’ ’em out just yet. A slow start don’t mean a lost race. Apple, like a well-bred mule, is stubborn and strong. And when she finally sets her mind to somethin’, well, hold onto your hats. I reckon they’ll give these upstart AI companies – OpenAI and Anthropic, fancy names for folks sellin’ smoke and mirrors – a run for their money. They’ve got the resources, alright, a pile of gold that’d make Croesus blush, and a brand name that folks trust, even if they don’t rightly know why.

Still a Giant, By Gum

Now, Apple’s been a marvel on the stock market for forty years and more. A steady climb, not one of these boom-and-bust affairs. Over the last five years, they’ve returned 102% – that’s a handsome return, even for a seasoned gambler. The S&P 500 did alright too, 87%, but Apple, she’s always been a bit more ambitious.

Their latest figures tell the tale. For the year just passed, they brought in $416 billion – a tidy sum, wouldn’t you say? And their profits grew by nearly 20%, reachin’ $112 billion. They’re a juggernaut, a proper steam engine chuggin’ along. The first quarter of this new fiscal year showed even more strength, with revenue climbin’ 16% to $143.8 billion. The iPhone, of course, is the engine drivin’ this whole contraption, accountin’ for nearly 60% of their sales. They’re sellin’ a lot of shiny rectangles, and folks are happily payin’ for ’em.

So, even if they’re a bit behind in this AI race, Apple ain’t showin’ any signs of slowin’ down. They’ve got the money to buy up any talent they need, or any smaller companies with a spark of genius. They could build an AI empire overnight if they so desired.

Now, they haven’t exactly unveiled any earth-shatterin’ AI marvels just yet – best not to speak of that Apple Intelligence launch, it was a bit of a stumble – but they’re makin’ the right moves. They brought in a new head of AI, Amar Subramanya, a fella who knows his way around these digital labyrinths, havin’ worked at both Microsoft and Alphabet. He’s workin’ with Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, to overhaul their AI efforts. And it seems to be bearin’ fruit.

Word on the street is, Apple might unveil an AI-powered version of Siri – that voice assistant of theirs – in just a few weeks. It won’t be built in-house, mind you, they’re borrowin’ a model from Alphabet for now. It’s a bit like borrowin’ a horse to win a race, but it’ll give ’em time to build their own stable. It’s a temporary fix, a stopgap measure, but it’ll give their engineers experience workin’ with AI, and their software developers time to integrate it into their systems.

And the plan is to take that borrowed model, the Alphabet Foundation 10 platform, and build upon it, creatin’ an Apple Foundation 11 for an even bigger Siri update later this year. The goal, of course, is to eventually replace the borrowed model with one of their own creation. It’s a bold ambition, but Apple has never been shy about takin’ on a challenge.

Now, if they take too long to develop that in-house AI program, they risk becomin’ dependent on Alphabet. But they’ve got the resources to build a competitor to ChatGPT or Gemini, and they’ve got a brand name that commands loyalty. Folks trust Apple, even if they don’t understand all the fancy technology.

Apple customers are the most loyal repeat buyers in the industry. A full 89% say they plan to stick with the iPhone when it’s time to replace their device. The industry average is just 70%. Samsung, their biggest rival, has a loyalty rate of only 77%. Folks like Apple products, and they keep comin’ back for more. That’s a powerful advantage, and it’ll keep their pockets lined while they work on their AI program.

Given their resources and the power of their brand, Apple has every chance to emerge as the dark horse in this race. It might not be a sprint, but a slow and steady sort of miracle. Consider givin’ ’em a look, if you’re so inclined. They might just surprise you.

2026-02-05 15:02

Still a Giant, By Gum

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