Apple\u2019s work on Siri will reportedly be led by managers who developed Vision Pro.
\nVision Pro creator Mike Rockwell, who is the new Siri engineering chief, is bringing members of the Vision Pro management team to Siri, replacing or demoting previous managers of the voice assistant business, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (April 22), citing unnamed sources.
\nApple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.
\nThe company\u2019s efforts to fix Siri have encountered project delays and engineering problems and have come to symbolize Apple\u2019s difficulties in the artificial intelligence (AI) field, according to the report.
\nWhile Vision Pro has not been a commercial hit, Rockwell\u2019s leadership of the development of the device showed his ability to take on major projects, gain support from top leadership and produce a well-regarding operating system and product, the report said.
\nRockwell remains in charge of the Vision Pro operating system, visionOS, even as he leads Siri, per the report.
\nIt was reported March 20 that Apple put Rockwell in charge of Siri and removed the voice assistant from the oversight of AI head John Giannadrea in order to speed up the development of AI products.
\nThose leadership changes followed an annual offsite meeting of Apple\u2019s senior leaders, the \u201cTop 100,\u201d at which the company\u2019s AI efforts were a key topic of discussion.
\nRockwell had demonstrated with the Vision Pro his ability to ship new products, as he became one of the few Apple leaders over the past decade to take a major hardware device from conception to market.
\nSiri was revolutionary when it debuted in 2011 but now lags behind competitors like Amazon\u2019s Alexa, Google\u2019s Gemini for Android devices, and Samsung\u2019s Galaxy AI \u2014 all of which are ahead in incorporating more advanced AI features \u2014 PYMNTS reported in March.
\nLuc Julia, a co-designer of the original Siri and now chief scientific officer of French automaker Renault, told PYMNTS in March that one hurdle to moving faster is Apple\u2019s culture, as a product must be \u201cnearly perfect\u201d before it is introduced.
\n\u201cThey are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect,\u201d Julia said.
\nThe post Report: Apple Vision Pro Managers Taking Lead of Siri Revamp appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple\u2019s work on Siri will reportedly be led by managers who developed Vision Pro.\nVision Pro creator Mike Rockwell, who is the new Siri engineering chief, is bringing members of the Vision Pro management team to Siri, replacing or demoting previous managers of the voice assistant business, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (April 22), citing unnamed sources.\nApple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.\nThe company\u2019s efforts to fix Siri have encountered project delays and engineering problems and have come to symbolize Apple\u2019s difficulties in the artificial intelligence (AI) field, according to the report.\nWhile Vision Pro has not been a commercial hit, Rockwell\u2019s leadership of the development of the device showed his ability to take on major projects, gain support from top leadership and produce a well-regarding operating system and product, the report said.\nRockwell remains in charge of the Vision Pro operating system, visionOS, even as he leads Siri, per the report.\nIt was reported March 20 that Apple put Rockwell in charge of Siri and removed the voice assistant from the oversight of AI head John Giannadrea in order to speed up the development of AI products.\nThose leadership changes followed an annual offsite meeting of Apple\u2019s senior leaders, the \u201cTop 100,\u201d at which the company\u2019s AI efforts were a key topic of discussion.\nRockwell had demonstrated with the Vision Pro his ability to ship new products, as he became one of the few Apple leaders over the past decade to take a major hardware device from conception to market.\nSiri was revolutionary when it debuted in 2011 but now lags behind competitors like Amazon\u2019s Alexa, Google\u2019s Gemini for Android devices, and Samsung\u2019s Galaxy AI \u2014 all of which are ahead in incorporating more advanced AI features \u2014 PYMNTS reported in March.\nLuc Julia, a co-designer of the original Siri and now chief scientific officer of French automaker Renault, told PYMNTS in March that one hurdle to moving faster is Apple\u2019s culture, as a product must be \u201cnearly perfect\u201d before it is introduced.\n\u201cThey are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect,\u201d Julia said.\nThe post Report: Apple Vision Pro Managers Taking Lead of Siri Revamp appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-04-22T15:46:17-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-22T15:46:17-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Apple-Siri-Vision-Pro.jpg", "tags": [ "AI", "Apple", "artificial intelligence", "Mike Rockwell", "News", "PYMNTS News", "siri", "Vision Pro", "visionOS", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2689266", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/morgan-stanley-apple-intelligence-becoming-increasingly-important-to-iphone-owners/", "title": "Morgan Stanley: Apple Intelligence Becoming Increasingly Important to iPhone Owners", "content_html": "Consumers\u2019 perception of Apple\u2019s artificial intelligence (AI) platform is more favorable than that of investors, Morgan Stanley said in a research note released Tuesday (April 22).
\nIn the note, which the company provided to PYMNTS, Morgan Stanley said it found that the Apple Intelligence platform has been downloaded and engaged with by 80% of eligible U.S. iPhone owners in the last six months, has an above average net promoter score of 53, and is characterized by iPhone users as \u201ceasy to use, innovative, and something that improves their user experience.\u201d
\n\u201cWhile much of the public critique of Apple Intelligence is warranted, and investor sentiment and expectations on Apple\u2019s AI platform couldn\u2019t be lower, our survey of iPhone owners paints a more positive picture,\u201d Morgan Stanley said in the note.
\nThe survey also found that since September, the share of iPhone owners who believe it is extremely or very important to have Apple Intelligence support on their next iPhone rose 15 points to reach 42%. Among iPhone owners who are likely to upgrade their device in the next 12 months, the percentage saying that about the AI platform rose 20 points to reach 54%, according to the note.
\nMorgan Stanley also found that consumers are willing to pay more for Apple Intelligence than they were in September. Those who have used the AI platform are now willing to pay an average of $9.11 per month for it, a figure that\u2019s 11% higher than the $8.17 average seen in September, per the note.
\n\u201cWhile we don\u2019t expect Apple to put Apple Intelligence behind a paywall until the platform is more built out, the potential long-term monetization of an Apple Intelligence subscription could reach tens of billions of dollars annually when considering a 1.4B global iPhone installed base, 32% (and growing) of US iPhone owners have an Apple Intelligence support iPhone, and users are willing to pay up to $9.11/month for Apple Intelligence,\u201d Morgan Stanley said in the note.
\nApple announced its suite of AI features in June, saying Apple Intelligence would revolutionize the iPhone,Mac and iPad experience, while keeping user data safe.
\nThe rollout of the offering over a period of months experienced some hiccups, including complaints that its AI summary tool was generating inaccurate headlines, leading Apple to remove the feature from its operating system.
\nFor all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily\u00a0AI\u00a0Newsletter.
\nThe post Morgan Stanley: Apple Intelligence Becoming Increasingly Important to iPhone Owners appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Consumers\u2019 perception of Apple\u2019s artificial intelligence (AI) platform is more favorable than that of investors, Morgan Stanley said in a research note released Tuesday (April 22).\nIn the note, which the company provided to PYMNTS, Morgan Stanley said it found that the Apple Intelligence platform has been downloaded and engaged with by 80% of eligible U.S. iPhone owners in the last six months, has an above average net promoter score of 53, and is characterized by iPhone users as \u201ceasy to use, innovative, and something that improves their user experience.\u201d\n\u201cWhile much of the public critique of Apple Intelligence is warranted, and investor sentiment and expectations on Apple\u2019s AI platform couldn\u2019t be lower, our survey of iPhone owners paints a more positive picture,\u201d Morgan Stanley said in the note.\nThe survey also found that since September, the share of iPhone owners who believe it is extremely or very important to have Apple Intelligence support on their next iPhone rose 15 points to reach 42%. Among iPhone owners who are likely to upgrade their device in the next 12 months, the percentage saying that about the AI platform rose 20 points to reach 54%, according to the note.\nMorgan Stanley also found that consumers are willing to pay more for Apple Intelligence than they were in September. Those who have used the AI platform are now willing to pay an average of $9.11 per month for it, a figure that\u2019s 11% higher than the $8.17 average seen in September, per the note.\n\u201cWhile we don\u2019t expect Apple to put Apple Intelligence behind a paywall until the platform is more built out, the potential long-term monetization of an Apple Intelligence subscription could reach tens of billions of dollars annually when considering a 1.4B global iPhone installed base, 32% (and growing) of US iPhone owners have an Apple Intelligence support iPhone, and users are willing to pay up to $9.11/month for Apple Intelligence,\u201d Morgan Stanley said in the note.\nApple announced its suite of AI features in June, saying Apple Intelligence would revolutionize the iPhone,Mac and iPad experience, while keeping user data safe.\nThe rollout of the offering over a period of months experienced some hiccups, including complaints that its AI summary tool was generating inaccurate headlines, leading Apple to remove the feature from its operating system.\n\nFor all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily\u00a0AI\u00a0Newsletter.\n\nThe post Morgan Stanley: Apple Intelligence Becoming Increasingly Important to iPhone Owners appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-04-22T14:01:57-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-22T14:01:57-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Apple-Intelligence-2.jpg", "tags": [ "AI", "Apple", "Apple Intelligence", "artificial intelligence", "iPhones", "Morgan Stanley", "News", "PYMNTS News", "Smartphones", "Technology", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2684345", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/apple-to-tap-user-data-for-llm-training/", "title": "Apple to Tap User Data for LLM Training", "content_html": "Apple is planning to analyze user data to improve its large language model (LLM) software while upholding user privacy.
\nThe company has been using synthetic data to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models but has found that method to be ineffective, Apple wrote in a Monday (April 14) blog post.
\nNow, Apple will still use synthetic data as a starting point but will compare the generated text to a sample of emails from participating user to determine which generated output best lines up with real-world messages.
\n\u201cOnly users who have opted-in to send Device Analytics information to Apple participate,\u201d Apple said in the blog post. \u201cThe contents of the sampled emails never leave the device and are never shared with Apple. A participating device will send only a signal indicating which of the variants is closest to the sampled data on the device, and Apple learns which selected synthetic emails are most often selected across all devices.\u201d
\nThe new technique aims to improve text-related features from the Apple Intelligence platform, like summaries in notifications, the ability to synthesize thoughts in its Writing Tools and recaps of user messages.
\nApple Intelligence has struggled to provide users with accurate summaries, and senior executives said in an internal meeting last month that the company\u2019s delays to key updates for Siri, its virtual AI-powered voice assistant, have been ugly and embarrassing.
\nApple said Siri would\u00a0get fresh AI updates later this year, but the Big Tech firm later told Reuters that those improvements would only come in 2026.
\nSiri, once a pioneer in the field of virtual assistants, is now lagging behind rivals such as Amazon\u2019s Alexa, Google\u2019s\u00a0Gemini for Android devices, and\u00a0Samsung\u2019s\u00a0Galaxy AI, all of which are ahead in offering more advanced AI features, PYMNTS reported last month.
\nThe delays reportedly resulted in the termination of an executive, a rare move for Apple.
\nCEO\u00a0Tim Cook removed AI head\u00a0John Giannandrea, the former head of search and AI at Google, from overseeing Siri. Taking his place,\u00a0Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell, who will oversee Siri\u2019s upgrades.
\n\u201cRockwell will report to software chief Craig Federighi,\u201d\u00a0PYMNTS reported. \u201cGiannandrea will still oversee other AI efforts at Apple.\u201d
\nThe post Apple to Tap User Data for LLM Training appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple is planning to analyze user data to improve its large language model (LLM) software while upholding user privacy. \nThe company has been using synthetic data to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models but has found that method to be ineffective, Apple wrote in a Monday (April 14) blog post. \nNow, Apple will still use synthetic data as a starting point but will compare the generated text to a sample of emails from participating user to determine which generated output best lines up with real-world messages.\n\u201cOnly users who have opted-in to send Device Analytics information to Apple participate,\u201d Apple said in the blog post. \u201cThe contents of the sampled emails never leave the device and are never shared with Apple. A participating device will send only a signal indicating which of the variants is closest to the sampled data on the device, and Apple learns which selected synthetic emails are most often selected across all devices.\u201d\nThe new technique aims to improve text-related features from the Apple Intelligence platform, like summaries in notifications, the ability to synthesize thoughts in its Writing Tools and recaps of user messages.\nApple Intelligence has struggled to provide users with accurate summaries, and senior executives said in an internal meeting last month that the company\u2019s delays to key updates for Siri, its virtual AI-powered voice assistant, have been ugly and embarrassing.\nApple said Siri would\u00a0get fresh AI updates later this year, but the Big Tech firm later told Reuters that those improvements would only come in 2026. \nSiri, once a pioneer in the field of virtual assistants, is now lagging behind rivals such as Amazon\u2019s Alexa, Google\u2019s\u00a0Gemini for Android devices, and\u00a0Samsung\u2019s\u00a0Galaxy AI, all of which are ahead in offering more advanced AI features, PYMNTS reported last month.\nThe delays reportedly resulted in the termination of an executive, a rare move for Apple. \nCEO\u00a0Tim Cook removed AI head\u00a0John Giannandrea, the former head of search and AI at Google, from overseeing Siri. Taking his place,\u00a0Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell, who will oversee Siri\u2019s upgrades.\n\u201cRockwell will report to software chief Craig Federighi,\u201d\u00a0PYMNTS reported. \u201cGiannandrea will still oversee other AI efforts at Apple.\u201d\nThe post Apple to Tap User Data for LLM Training appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-04-14T17:42:20-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-14T17:42:20-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Apple-AI-5.jpg", "tags": [ "AI", "AI assistant", "Apple", "Apple Intelligence", "artificial intelligence", "GenAI", "generative AI", "large language model", "LLMs", "News", "PYMNTS News", "siri", "virtual assistant", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2681832", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/apples-anti-tariff-tactic-flying-1-5-million-iphones-from-india/", "title": "Apple\u2019s Anti-Tariff Tactic: Flying 1.5 Million iPhones From India", "content_html": "Apple has reportedly flown 600 tons of iPhones into the U.S. in an anti-tariff measure.
\nThe effort, which brought up to 1.5 million of Apple\u2019s flagship smartphones into the country, came after the company ceased productions in India to overcome President Donald Trump\u2019s tariffs, Reuters reported Thursday (April 10), citing sources familiar with Apple\u2019s plans.
\nAccording to the report, analysts warn that iPhone prices could rocket up in the U.S. due to Apple\u2019s dependence on Chinese imports. China is the company\u2019s chief manufacturing hub, and is facing a 125% tariff rate.
\nIndia, meanwhile, has a much lower rate \u2014 26% \u2014 which is now on hold after Trump instituted a 90-day tariff pause on all countries aside from China.
\nApple \u201cwanted to beat the tariff,\u201d one of the sources told Reuters.
\nThat source said the company had campaigned to get Indian airport authorities to cut the time needed to make it through customs at the Chennai airport in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, from 30 hours down to just six hours.
\nApple sells upwards of 220 million iPhones worldwide each year, the report said, citing data from Counterpoint Research showing that 20% of those phone imports to the U.S. are from India, with the remainder coming from China.
\nThe Reuters report suggests that Apple\u2019s plans were in place long before the tariffs, or even before Trump\u2019s election victory, with a senior Indian official saying that the company had spent about eight months arranging its fast-tracked customs clearance.
\nAs noted here earlier in the week \u2014 in a previous report on Apple\u2019s plans to use India to offset the tariff costs \u2014 the tech giant was among the companies that saw the biggest stock market losses after the new levies were announced.
\n\u201cThe decline in shares of Apple erased $300 billion from the company\u2019s market cap, largely because of the iPhone maker\u2019s overseas production hubs,\u201d PYMNTS wrote.
\nWhen Trump announced the pause Thursday, the markets recovered somewhat, with the Dow surging by nearly 2,000 points, bringing temporary relief to many industries and markets, PYMNTS wrote in a separate report Thursday.
\n\u201cHowever, companies and economists remain cautious about its long-term implications,\u201d that report added. \u201cThe freeze does not eliminate tariffs entirely, leaving uncertainty about future trade policies but also pulling the covers on what companies may do if the temporary freeze is lifted for an appreciable amount of time.
\nThe post Apple\u2019s Anti-Tariff Tactic: Flying 1.5 Million iPhones From India appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple has reportedly flown 600 tons of iPhones into the U.S. in an anti-tariff measure.\nThe effort, which brought up to 1.5 million of Apple\u2019s flagship smartphones into the country, came after the company ceased productions in India to overcome President Donald Trump\u2019s tariffs, Reuters reported Thursday (April 10), citing sources familiar with Apple\u2019s plans.\nAccording to the report, analysts warn that iPhone prices could rocket up in the U.S. due to Apple\u2019s dependence on Chinese imports. China is the company\u2019s chief manufacturing hub, and is facing a 125% tariff rate.\nIndia, meanwhile, has a much lower rate \u2014 26% \u2014 which is now on hold after Trump instituted a 90-day tariff pause on all countries aside from China.\nApple \u201cwanted to beat the tariff,\u201d one of the sources told Reuters.\nThat source said the company had campaigned to get Indian airport authorities to cut the time needed to make it through customs at the Chennai airport in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, from 30 hours down to just six hours.\nApple sells upwards of 220 million iPhones worldwide each year, the report said, citing data from Counterpoint Research showing that 20% of those phone imports to the U.S. are from India, with the remainder coming from China.\nThe Reuters report suggests that Apple\u2019s plans were in place long before the tariffs, or even before Trump\u2019s election victory, with a senior Indian official saying that the company had spent about eight months arranging its fast-tracked customs clearance.\nAs noted here earlier in the week \u2014 in a previous report on Apple\u2019s plans to use India to offset the tariff costs \u2014 the tech giant was among the companies that saw the biggest stock market losses after the new levies were announced.\n\u201cThe decline in shares of Apple erased $300 billion from the company\u2019s market cap, largely because of the iPhone maker\u2019s overseas production hubs,\u201d PYMNTS wrote.\nWhen Trump announced the pause Thursday, the markets recovered somewhat, with the Dow surging by nearly 2,000 points, bringing temporary relief to many industries and markets, PYMNTS wrote in a separate report Thursday.\n\u201cHowever, companies and economists remain cautious about its long-term implications,\u201d that report added. \u201cThe freeze does not eliminate tariffs entirely, leaving uncertainty about future trade policies but also pulling the covers on what companies may do if the temporary freeze is lifted for an appreciable amount of time.\nThe post Apple\u2019s Anti-Tariff Tactic: Flying 1.5 Million iPhones From India appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-04-10T11:19:02-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-10T11:19:02-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Apple-iPhones-imports-India-China-tariffs.jpg", "tags": [ "Apple", "china", "imports", "india", "iPhones", "News", "phones", "PYMNTS News", "Smartphones", "tariffs", "Technology", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2580867", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/report-apples-tariff-strategies-include-importing-more-iphones-from-india/", "title": "Report: Apple\u2019s Tariff Strategies Include Importing More iPhones From India", "content_html": "Apple\u2019s plans for dealing with the U.S. tariffs imposed on China \u2014 which is at the center of the company\u2019s supply chain \u2014 reportedly include sending more iPhones made in India to supply the U.S. market.
\nThe company is doing so because while the tariffs announced by the Trump administration impose a 26% rate on goods from India, they place at least a 54% rate on those from China, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Monday (April 7), citing unnamed sources.
\nAbout 50% of American demand for iPhones could be met with devices made in India, according to the report.
\nApple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.
\nThe company is also attempting to get an exemption from the tariffs, as it did during the first Trump administration, the WSJ report said.
\nMaking the products in the U.S. \u2014 which is the stated goal of the new tariffs for all goods \u2014 is a \u201cnonstarter\u201d because that would be much more expensive than paying the tariff, per the report.
\nBloomberg reported Monday that Apple stocked up on inventory ahead of the tariffs as part of its efforts to prepare for their arrival, which should delay the impact of the tariffs until into the next quarter.
\nApple is also likely to squeeze its suppliers and lower its margins in order to keep the prices of its iPhones from soaring, the report said, adding that the company has kept the starting price of its flagship device at $999 since 2017.
\nIn the meantime, consumers\u2019 concerns that tariffs may cause a surge in iPhone prices sent them racing to Apple stores this weekend, leading to crowds like those normally seen during the holiday shopping season, per the report.
\nApple was among the companies that took the biggest hits to their stock price on Thursday (April 3), the day after the new tariffs were announced. The drop seen by the company and others like Nike and Wayfair was due to their dependence on imports.
\nThe decline in shares of Apple erased $300 billion from the company\u2019s market cap, largely because of the iPhone maker\u2019s overseas production hubs.
\nThe post Report: Apple\u2019s Tariff Strategies Include Importing More iPhones From India appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple\u2019s plans for dealing with the U.S. tariffs imposed on China \u2014 which is at the center of the company\u2019s supply chain \u2014 reportedly include sending more iPhones made in India to supply the U.S. market.\nThe company is doing so because while the tariffs announced by the Trump administration impose a 26% rate on goods from India, they place at least a 54% rate on those from China, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Monday (April 7), citing unnamed sources.\nAbout 50% of American demand for iPhones could be met with devices made in India, according to the report.\nApple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.\nThe company is also attempting to get an exemption from the tariffs, as it did during the first Trump administration, the WSJ report said.\nMaking the products in the U.S. \u2014 which is the stated goal of the new tariffs for all goods \u2014 is a \u201cnonstarter\u201d because that would be much more expensive than paying the tariff, per the report.\nBloomberg reported Monday that Apple stocked up on inventory ahead of the tariffs as part of its efforts to prepare for their arrival, which should delay the impact of the tariffs until into the next quarter.\nApple is also likely to squeeze its suppliers and lower its margins in order to keep the prices of its iPhones from soaring, the report said, adding that the company has kept the starting price of its flagship device at $999 since 2017.\nIn the meantime, consumers\u2019 concerns that tariffs may cause a surge in iPhone prices sent them racing to Apple stores this weekend, leading to crowds like those normally seen during the holiday shopping season, per the report.\nApple was among the companies that took the biggest hits to their stock price on Thursday (April 3), the day after the new tariffs were announced. The drop seen by the company and others like Nike and Wayfair was due to their dependence on imports.\nThe decline in shares of Apple erased $300 billion from the company\u2019s market cap, largely because of the iPhone maker\u2019s overseas production hubs.\nThe post Report: Apple\u2019s Tariff Strategies Include Importing More iPhones From India appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-04-07T19:06:45-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-07T19:06:45-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Apple-tariffs-iPhone-India.jpg", "tags": [ "Apple", "china", "Donald Trump", "imports", "india", "iPhones", "News", "PYMNTS News", "tariffs", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2539084", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/france-fines-apple-162-million-alleging-privacy-tool-violated-competition-law/", "title": "France Fines Apple $162 Million, Alleging Privacy Tool Violated Competition Law", "content_html": "France\u2019s competition regulator has fined Apple 150 million euros (about $162 million), alleging that the company\u2019s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) made the use of third-party applications in the iOS environment \u201cexcessively complex.\u201d
\nThis complexity amounted to abuse of Apple\u2019s dominant position in the distribution of mobile apps on iOS and iPadOS devices between April 2021 and July 2023, the Autorit\u00e9 de la concurrence said in a Monday (March 31) press release.
\n\u201cAs part of its investigation into the merits of the case, the Autorit\u00e9 found that while the objective of the App Tracking Transparency (\u2018ATT\u2019) framework is not at its core problematic, how ATT is implemented is neither necessary for nor proportionate with Apple\u2019s stated objective of protecting personal data,\u201d the release said.
\nApple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.
\nThe company told Reuters, per a report posted Monday: \u201cWhile we are disappointed with today\u2019s decision, the French Competition Authority has not required any specific changes to ATT.\u201d
\nATT, which Apple introduced in April 2021 with the launch of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, protects the privacy of users of iPhones and iPads by asking for their consent before allowing third-party applications downloaded from the App Store to collect user data for targeted advertising purposes, according to the French regulator\u2019s press release.
\nIn October 2020, after Apple announced that it would introduce ATT, several associations representing players in the online advertising industry filed a complaint with the regulator, saying the technology would present an obstacle to targeted advertising, per the release.
\nThe regulator ruled that ATT is abusive in terms of competition law because it leads to multiple consent pop-ups being displayed, requires users to consent twice to advertising tracking but refuse only once, and, until the implementation of iOS 15, required users to consent only once to Apple\u2019s data tracking but twice for third parties\u2019 data collection, the release said.
\nApple told PYMNTS in July 2023 that ATT gives users added control by requiring apps to ask permission before tracking them.
\nThe company said it had received \u201cstrong support from regulators and privacy advocates on the goal of ATT,\u201d and would continue to work to make sure users hold onto control of their data.
\nThe post France Fines Apple $162 Million, Alleging Privacy Tool Violated Competition Law appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "France\u2019s competition regulator has fined Apple 150 million euros (about $162 million), alleging that the company\u2019s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) made the use of third-party applications in the iOS environment \u201cexcessively complex.\u201d\nThis complexity amounted to abuse of Apple\u2019s dominant position in the distribution of mobile apps on iOS and iPadOS devices between April 2021 and July 2023, the Autorit\u00e9 de la concurrence said in a Monday (March 31) press release.\n\u201cAs part of its investigation into the merits of the case, the Autorit\u00e9 found that while the objective of the App Tracking Transparency (\u2018ATT\u2019) framework is not at its core problematic, how ATT is implemented is neither necessary for nor proportionate with Apple\u2019s stated objective of protecting personal data,\u201d the release said.\nApple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.\nThe company told Reuters, per a report posted Monday: \u201cWhile we are disappointed with today\u2019s decision, the French Competition Authority has not required any specific changes to ATT.\u201d\nATT, which Apple introduced in April 2021 with the launch of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, protects the privacy of users of iPhones and iPads by asking for their consent before allowing third-party applications downloaded from the App Store to collect user data for targeted advertising purposes, according to the French regulator\u2019s press release.\nIn October 2020, after Apple announced that it would introduce ATT, several associations representing players in the online advertising industry filed a complaint with the regulator, saying the technology would present an obstacle to targeted advertising, per the release.\nThe regulator ruled that ATT is abusive in terms of competition law because it leads to multiple consent pop-ups being displayed, requires users to consent twice to advertising tracking but refuse only once, and, until the implementation of iOS 15, required users to consent only once to Apple\u2019s data tracking but twice for third parties\u2019 data collection, the release said.\nApple told PYMNTS in July 2023 that ATT gives users added control by requiring apps to ask permission before tracking them.\nThe company said it had received \u201cstrong support from regulators and privacy advocates on the goal of ATT,\u201d and would continue to work to make sure users hold onto control of their data.\nThe post France Fines Apple $162 Million, Alleging Privacy Tool Violated Competition Law appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-31T11:50:13-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-31T11:50:13-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/France-Apple-privacy.png", "tags": [ "Antitrust", "App Tracking Transparency", "Apple", "data tracking", "France", "News", "privacy", "PYMNTS News", "regulations", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2517038", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/apple-ceo-tim-cook-calls-deepseeks-ai-models-excellent-during-china-visit/", "title": "Apple CEO Cook Praises DeepSeek\u2019s AI Models During China Visit", "content_html": "Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly told the official China News Service that DeepSeek\u2019s artificial intelligence (AI) models are \u201cexcellent.\u201d
\nCook said this on the sidelines of the China Development Forum in Beijing, a day before Apple is set to hold its developer conference in Shanghai, the South China Morning Post reported Monday (March 24).
\nAt the developer conference, Apple is expected to share details about Apple Intelligence with Chinese developers, according to the report.
\nThe company is waiting for final approval to add Apple Intelligence to iPhones in the country, the report said.
\nWhen a new AI model from DeepSeek was launched in January, tech stocks plunged as the company claimed it achieved performance comparable to those of U.S. rivals while using substantially fewer Nvidia chips.
\nDuring Apple\u2019s Jan. 30 earnings call, Cook was asked about the rise of DeepSeek and said, \u201cIn general, I think innovation that drives efficiency is a good thing. And that\u2019s what you see in that model.\u201d
\nIn February, a top executive from China\u2019s Alibaba said his company partnered with Apple to help bring AI-powered iPhones to China.
\n\u201cThey want to use our AI to power their phones, so we\u2019re very fortunate and extremely honored to be able to do business with a great company like Apple,\u201d Joe Tsai, Alibaba\u2019s chair, said at a conference in Dubai.
\nIt was reported in January that Apple\u2019s iPhone sales dropped 5% late last year amid stronger competition from Chinese rivals and that much of the decline could be attributed to the lack of Apple\u2019s AI features on phones sold in China.
\nOne roadblock was that Apple had not yet been able to add those features to iPhone 16s sold in China even as Chinese companies like Huawei added them. The company was trying to secure partnerships with Chinese companies to roll out its AI features.
\nChina requires generative AI operators to secure government permission before they can debut a product.
\n\u201cApple\u2019s iPhone 16 series was met with a mixed response, partly due to a lack of availability of Apple Intelligence at launch,\u201d Tarun Pathak, director at Counterpoint Research, said at the time.
\nFor all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily\u00a0AI\u00a0Newsletter.
\nThe post Apple CEO Cook Praises DeepSeek\u2019s AI Models During China Visit appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly told the official China News Service that DeepSeek\u2019s artificial intelligence (AI) models are \u201cexcellent.\u201d\nCook said this on the sidelines of the China Development Forum in Beijing, a day before Apple is set to hold its developer conference in Shanghai, the South China Morning Post reported Monday (March 24).\nAt the developer conference, Apple is expected to share details about Apple Intelligence with Chinese developers, according to the report.\nThe company is waiting for final approval to add Apple Intelligence to iPhones in the country, the report said.\nWhen a new AI model from DeepSeek was launched in January, tech stocks plunged as the company claimed it achieved performance comparable to those of U.S. rivals while using substantially fewer Nvidia chips.\nDuring Apple\u2019s Jan. 30 earnings call, Cook was asked about the rise of DeepSeek and said, \u201cIn general, I think innovation that drives efficiency is a good thing. And that\u2019s what you see in that model.\u201d\nIn February, a top executive from China\u2019s Alibaba said his company partnered with Apple to help bring AI-powered iPhones to China.\n\u201cThey want to use our AI to power their phones, so we\u2019re very fortunate and extremely honored to be able to do business with a great company like Apple,\u201d Joe Tsai, Alibaba\u2019s chair, said at a conference in Dubai.\nIt was reported in January that Apple\u2019s iPhone sales dropped 5% late last year amid stronger competition from Chinese rivals and that much of the decline could be attributed to the lack of Apple\u2019s AI features on phones sold in China.\nOne roadblock was that Apple had not yet been able to add those features to iPhone 16s sold in China even as Chinese companies like Huawei added them. The company was trying to secure partnerships with Chinese companies to roll out its AI features.\nChina requires generative AI operators to secure government permission before they can debut a product.\n\u201cApple\u2019s iPhone 16 series was met with a mixed response, partly due to a lack of availability of Apple Intelligence at launch,\u201d Tarun Pathak, director at Counterpoint Research, said at the time.\n\nFor all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily\u00a0AI\u00a0Newsletter.\n\nThe post Apple CEO Cook Praises DeepSeek\u2019s AI Models During China Visit appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-24T14:14:37-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-24T22:30:58-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apple-DeepSeek-AI-China.png", "tags": [ "AI", "Apple", "Apple Intelligence", "artificial intelligence", "china", "DeepSeek", "iPhones", "News", "PYMNTS News", "Technology", "Tim Cook", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2516553", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/apples-ai-delays-lead-to-false-advertising-lawsuit/", "title": "Apple\u2019s AI Delays Lead to False Advertising Lawsuit", "content_html": "Apple has been sued for false advertising due to its delayed artificial intelligence (AI) rollout.
\nAs Axios reported, the proposed class action suit, filed last week in federal court, seeks unspecified damages for customers who purchased Apple products outfitted with the company\u2019s AI capabilities, dubbed \u201cApple Intelligence.\u201d
\n\u201cApple\u2019s advertisements saturated the internet, television, and other airwaves to cultivate a clear and reasonable consumer expectation that these transformative features would be available upon the iPhone\u2019s release,\u201d the suit says.
\n\u201cThis drove unprecedented excitement in the market, even for Apple, as the company knew it would, and as part of Apple\u2019s ongoing effort to convince consumers to upgrade at a premium price and to distinguish itself from competitors deemed to be winning the AI-arms race.\u201d
\nHowever, the suit adds, Apple\u2019s products featured \u201ca significantly limited or entirely absent version of Apple Intelligence,\u201d thus misleading consumers. The suit also says Apple advertised its products based on \u201coverstated AI capabilities.\u201d
\nThe lawsuit also notes that Apple has pulled a recent ad campaign touting AI capabilities of its Siri voice assistant from YouTube, but has otherwise \u201cfailed to retract all the similarly false representations in the market that began in the summer of 2024.\u201d
\nPYMNTS has contacted Apple for comment but has not yet gotten a reply.
\nThe suit comes at a time when \u2014 as noted here last week \u2014 Apple is struggling to catch up to competitors such as Amazon and Google as those companies roll out more advanced AI features.
\nThe company has said that improvements to Siri \u2014 originally planned to debut this year \u2014 had been pushed back until 2026. Amazon, meanwhile, recently announced Alexa+, an updated version of its home voice assistant that embeds generative and agentic AI.
\n\u201cIt is a remarkable fall from grace for Siri that has culminated in a rare move by Apple: demoting the executive in charge,\u201d PYMNTS wrote.
\nThe executive in question is John Giannandrea, ex-head of search and AI at Google, who had been overseeing Siri’s upgrades before. That job now goes to Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell.
\nSpeaking with PYMNTS earlier this month, Siri co-designer Luc Julia said that an obsession with perfection is likely weighing down efforts to introduce an upgraded Siri.
\n\u201cThey are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect,\u201d said Julia.
\nThe post Apple’s AI Delays Lead to False Advertising Lawsuit appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple has been sued for false advertising due to its delayed artificial intelligence (AI) rollout.\nAs Axios reported, the proposed class action suit, filed last week in federal court, seeks unspecified damages for customers who purchased Apple products outfitted with the company\u2019s AI capabilities, dubbed \u201cApple Intelligence.\u201d\n\u201cApple\u2019s advertisements saturated the internet, television, and other airwaves to cultivate a clear and reasonable consumer expectation that these transformative features would be available upon the iPhone\u2019s release,\u201d the suit says.\n\u201cThis drove unprecedented excitement in the market, even for Apple, as the company knew it would, and as part of Apple\u2019s ongoing effort to convince consumers to upgrade at a premium price and to distinguish itself from competitors deemed to be winning the AI-arms race.\u201d\nHowever, the suit adds, Apple\u2019s products featured \u201ca significantly limited or entirely absent version of Apple Intelligence,\u201d thus misleading consumers. The suit also says Apple advertised its products based on \u201coverstated AI capabilities.\u201d\nThe lawsuit also notes that Apple has pulled a recent ad campaign touting AI capabilities of its Siri voice assistant from YouTube, but has otherwise \u201cfailed to retract all the similarly false representations in the market that began in the summer of 2024.\u201d\nPYMNTS has contacted Apple for comment but has not yet gotten a reply.\nThe suit comes at a time when \u2014 as noted here last week \u2014 Apple is struggling to catch up to competitors such as Amazon and Google as those companies roll out more advanced AI features.\nThe company has said that improvements to Siri \u2014 originally planned to debut this year \u2014 had been pushed back until 2026. Amazon, meanwhile, recently announced Alexa+, an updated version of its home voice assistant that embeds generative and agentic AI.\n\u201cIt is a remarkable fall from grace for Siri that has culminated in a rare move by Apple: demoting the executive in charge,\u201d PYMNTS wrote.\nThe executive in question is John Giannandrea, ex-head of search and AI at Google, who had been overseeing Siri’s upgrades before. That job now goes to Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell.\nSpeaking with PYMNTS earlier this month, Siri co-designer Luc Julia said that an obsession with perfection is likely weighing down efforts to introduce an upgraded Siri.\n\u201cThey are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect,\u201d said Julia.\nThe post Apple’s AI Delays Lead to False Advertising Lawsuit appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-23T18:21:13-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-23T18:22:53-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apple-Intelligence-3.jpg", "tags": [ "AI", "Alexa", "Apple", "Apple Intelligence", "artificial intelligence", "legal", "News", "PYMNTS News", "siri", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2516503", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/apples-product-roadmap-reportedly-includes-camera-equipped-watch/", "title": "Apple\u2019s Product Roadmap Reportedly Includes Camera-Equipped Watch", "content_html": "Apple is reportedly working on a new version of its Watch that includes a camera.
\nAs Bloomberg News reported Sunday (March 23), the camera would help the watch see the outside world and use artificial intelligence (AI) to provide relevant information.
\nThese watches are likely still generations away from hitting stores, writes Bloomberg\u2019s Mark Gruman, but are on the company \u201croadmap,\u201d with plans to add cameras to both the standard Series and Ultra Apple Watch models.\u00a0
\nBut each watch would have a different camera set-up, the report added. In the Series watch model, the camera would be inside the display, as with the front-facing lens on an iPhone. With the Ultra version of the watch, the camera lens would sit at the side of the watch near the crown and button.
\nThis way, an Ultra user could point their wrist at something to scan an object, while Series wearers would have to flip over their wrists. Gruman added that it\u2019s likely the watch cameras would not support FaceTime, as the screens are too small for adequate video-conferencing.
\nMeanwhile, PYMNTS wrote last week about Apple\u2019s struggles to catch up with its rivals on the AI front, with Amazon\u2019s Alexa, Google\u2019s Gemini for Android devices, and Samsung\u2019s Galaxy AI all ahead in integrating more advanced AI features.
\nThe company told Reuters recently that upgrades to its Siri AI assistant would be delayed until this year after promising those enhancements for 2025.\u00a0
\nRobby Walker, head of Siri at Apple, has said that delays and missteps by Siri were \u201cugly\u201d especially after aggressively advertising its capabilities, according to a recent Bloomberg report.
\n\u201cIt is a remarkable fall from grace for Siri that has culminated in a rare move by Apple: demoting the executive in charge,\u201d PYMNTS wrote.
\nApple CEO Tim Cook reportedly removed AI head John Giannandrea, the former head of search and AI at Google, from running Siri operations, replacing him with Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell.
\nAccording to Siri co-designer Luc Julia, Apple\u2019s obsession with perfection is likely hindering efforts to launch an improved version of Siri faster.
\n\u201cThey are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect,\u201d Julia told PYMNTS in an interview this month.
\nHe noted that Siri was not created at Apple but rather by SRI International, directed by Julia. Apple later acquired Siri in 2010, and only after the intervention of one legendary executive.
\n\u201cOnly one guy wanted it,\u201d Luc recalled. \u201cIt was Steve Jobs.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u2019
\nThe post Apple’s Product Roadmap Reportedly Includes Camera-Equipped Watch appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple is reportedly working on a new version of its Watch that includes a camera.\nAs Bloomberg News reported Sunday (March 23), the camera would help the watch see the outside world and use artificial intelligence (AI) to provide relevant information.\nThese watches are likely still generations away from hitting stores, writes Bloomberg\u2019s Mark Gruman, but are on the company \u201croadmap,\u201d with plans to add cameras to both the standard Series and Ultra Apple Watch models.\u00a0\nBut each watch would have a different camera set-up, the report added. In the Series watch model, the camera would be inside the display, as with the front-facing lens on an iPhone. With the Ultra version of the watch, the camera lens would sit at the side of the watch near the crown and button.\nThis way, an Ultra user could point their wrist at something to scan an object, while Series wearers would have to flip over their wrists. Gruman added that it\u2019s likely the watch cameras would not support FaceTime, as the screens are too small for adequate video-conferencing.\nMeanwhile, PYMNTS wrote last week about Apple\u2019s struggles to catch up with its rivals on the AI front, with Amazon\u2019s Alexa, Google\u2019s Gemini for Android devices, and Samsung\u2019s Galaxy AI all ahead in integrating more advanced AI features.\nThe company told Reuters recently that upgrades to its Siri AI assistant would be delayed until this year after promising those enhancements for 2025.\u00a0\nRobby Walker, head of Siri at Apple, has said that delays and missteps by Siri were \u201cugly\u201d especially after aggressively advertising its capabilities, according to a recent Bloomberg report.\n\u201cIt is a remarkable fall from grace for Siri that has culminated in a rare move by Apple: demoting the executive in charge,\u201d PYMNTS wrote.\nApple CEO Tim Cook reportedly removed AI head John Giannandrea, the former head of search and AI at Google, from running Siri operations, replacing him with Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell.\nAccording to Siri co-designer Luc Julia, Apple\u2019s obsession with perfection is likely hindering efforts to launch an improved version of Siri faster.\n\u201cThey are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect,\u201d Julia told PYMNTS in an interview this month.\nHe noted that Siri was not created at Apple but rather by SRI International, directed by Julia. Apple later acquired Siri in 2010, and only after the intervention of one legendary executive.\n\u201cOnly one guy wanted it,\u201d Luc recalled. \u201cIt was Steve Jobs.\u201d\n\u00a0\u2019\nThe post Apple’s Product Roadmap Reportedly Includes Camera-Equipped Watch appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-23T16:20:23-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-23T16:22:17-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apple-Watch-4.jpg", "tags": [ "AI", "Apple", "Apple Intelligence", "Apple Watch", "Apple Watch camera", "artificial intelligence", "iPhones", "News", "siri", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2515494", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/apple/2025/apples-siri-once-a-pioneer-now-an-ai-laggard/", "title": "Apple\u2019s Siri: Once a Pioneer, Now an AI Laggard", "content_html": "When Apple\u2019s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, Siri, debuted in 2011, it was revolutionary for giving users the ability to \u201ctalk\u201d to their smartphone. Siri\u2019s capabilities were made possible by machine learning, which was state of the art at the time.
\nToday, Siri lags behind competitors such as Amazon\u2019s Alexa, Google\u2019s Gemini for Android devices, and Samsung\u2019s Galaxy AI \u2014 all of which are ahead in incorporating more advanced AI features.
\nEarlier this month, Apple told Reuters that improvements to Siri would be delayed until 2026. Previously, it had said Siri would see enhancements this year. Apple did not give a reason for the delay. The news comes as Amazon recently announced Alexa+, which embeds generative and agentic AI.
\nRobby Walker, head of Siri at Apple, reportedly said that delays and missteps by Siri were \u201cugly\u201d especially after heavy marketing on its capabilities, according to a Friday Bloomberg report.
\nIt is a remarkable fall from grace for Siri that has culminated in a rare move by Apple: demoting the executive in charge.
\nApple CEO Tim Cook reportedly removed AI head John Giannandrea, the former head of search and AI at Google, from overseeing Siri, according to Bloomberg. Instead, Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell will take over upgrading Siri.
\nRockwell will report to software chief\u00a0Craig Federighi. Giannandrea will still oversee other AI efforts at Apple.
\nThe change was made following Apple\u2019s secretive Top 100 meeting that gathers its most important executives to an off-site location to chart Apple\u2019s course \u2014 an event Apple co-founder Steve Jobs himself created. Bloomberg said the top topic at the meeting was Apple\u2019s AI efforts.
\nRead more: Report: Apple Makes Leadership Changes to Speed Development of AI-Powered Siri
\nAccording to Siri co-designer Luc Julia, an obsession with perfection is likely hampering efforts to roll out an upgraded Siri faster.
\n\u201cThey are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect,\u201d said Julia, in a previous interview with PYMNTS earlier this month.
\nJulia said Siri was not actually created by Apple. Rather, nonprofit research and development group SRI International, directed by Julia, developed it. SRI was spun off as a separate company in 2007; Apple acquired Siri in April 2010 and integrated it into the iPhone 4S in 2011.
\nAt the time, Apple executives didn\u2019t see the opportunity Siri presented. Apple wouldn\u2019t have acquired Siri\u2019s technology if it weren\u2019t for Jobs, who insisted on it, according to Julia, who later joined Apple as a director.
\n\u201cOnly one guy wanted it,\u201d Luc recalled. \u201cIt was Steve Jobs.\u201d
\nJulia sees the same cautiousness now among Apple\u2019s top management about revamping Siri. \u201cIt\u2019s the same story we are talking about today, which is, don\u2019t go too fast. We\u2019ll see if we want to do it.\u201d
\nSince Jobs\u2019 passing in 2011, new ideas at Apple have been few, and they were hit or miss. The most innovative thing Apple has done since then is the Apple Vision Pro, its augment reality headset, Julia said. The rest of the company is \u201cbasically running on what exists.\u201d
\n\nIn 2013, Oracle Chairman and then-CEO Larry Ellison was asked by CBS how he thought Apple would fare without Jobs.
\n\u201cWe conducted the experiment. It\u2019s been done. We saw Apple with Steve Jobs,\u201d said Ellison, drawing his finger up to mimic rising fortunes, \u201cwe saw Apple without Steve Jobs,\u201d bringing his finger down to show declining sales.
\nEllison was referring to the time when Apple\u2019s board fired Jobs in 1985 after he lost a power struggle with then-CEO John Sculley. Apple\u2019s business began to fail. In 1997, Jobs returned as CEO.
\nJobs would go on to launch the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad, dominating the music, smartphone and tablet industries.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s irreplaceable,\u201d Ellison said. \u201cThey will not be nearly so successful because he\u2019s gone.\u201d
\nThe post Apple\u2019s Siri: Once a Pioneer, Now an AI Laggard appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "When Apple\u2019s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, Siri, debuted in 2011, it was revolutionary for giving users the ability to \u201ctalk\u201d to their smartphone. Siri\u2019s capabilities were made possible by machine learning, which was state of the art at the time.\nToday, Siri lags behind competitors such as Amazon\u2019s Alexa, Google\u2019s Gemini for Android devices, and Samsung\u2019s Galaxy AI \u2014 all of which are ahead in incorporating more advanced AI features.\nEarlier this month, Apple told Reuters that improvements to Siri would be delayed until 2026. Previously, it had said Siri would see enhancements this year. Apple did not give a reason for the delay. The news comes as Amazon recently announced Alexa+, which embeds generative and agentic AI.\nRobby Walker, head of Siri at Apple, reportedly said that delays and missteps by Siri were \u201cugly\u201d especially after heavy marketing on its capabilities, according to a Friday Bloomberg report.\nIt is a remarkable fall from grace for Siri that has culminated in a rare move by Apple: demoting the executive in charge.\nApple CEO Tim Cook reportedly removed AI head John Giannandrea, the former head of search and AI at Google, from overseeing Siri, according to Bloomberg. Instead, Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell will take over upgrading Siri.\nRockwell will report to software chief\u00a0Craig Federighi. Giannandrea will still oversee other AI efforts at Apple.\nThe change was made following Apple\u2019s secretive Top 100 meeting that gathers its most important executives to an off-site location to chart Apple\u2019s course \u2014 an event Apple co-founder Steve Jobs himself created. Bloomberg said the top topic at the meeting was Apple\u2019s AI efforts.\nRead more: Report: Apple Makes Leadership Changes to Speed Development of AI-Powered Siri\nPerfection and Corporate Myopia\nAccording to Siri co-designer Luc Julia, an obsession with perfection is likely hampering efforts to roll out an upgraded Siri faster.\n\u201cThey are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect,\u201d said Julia, in a previous interview with PYMNTS earlier this month.\nJulia said Siri was not actually created by Apple. Rather, nonprofit research and development group SRI International, directed by Julia, developed it. SRI was spun off as a separate company in 2007; Apple acquired Siri in April 2010 and integrated it into the iPhone 4S in 2011.\nAt the time, Apple executives didn\u2019t see the opportunity Siri presented. Apple wouldn\u2019t have acquired Siri\u2019s technology if it weren\u2019t for Jobs, who insisted on it, according to Julia, who later joined Apple as a director.\n\u201cOnly one guy wanted it,\u201d Luc recalled. \u201cIt was Steve Jobs.\u201d\nJulia sees the same cautiousness now among Apple\u2019s top management about revamping Siri. \u201cIt\u2019s the same story we are talking about today, which is, don\u2019t go too fast. We\u2019ll see if we want to do it.\u201d\nSince Jobs\u2019 passing in 2011, new ideas at Apple have been few, and they were hit or miss. The most innovative thing Apple has done since then is the Apple Vision Pro, its augment reality headset, Julia said. The rest of the company is \u201cbasically running on what exists.\u201d\nSee also: Siri\u2019s Original Co-Designer Says Apple\u2019s \u2018Fear of Not Being Perfect\u2019 Hampers Siri Revamp\n\u2018We Saw Apple Without Steve Jobs\u2019\nIn 2013, Oracle Chairman and then-CEO Larry Ellison was asked by CBS how he thought Apple would fare without Jobs.\n\u201cWe conducted the experiment. It\u2019s been done. We saw Apple with Steve Jobs,\u201d said Ellison, drawing his finger up to mimic rising fortunes, \u201cwe saw Apple without Steve Jobs,\u201d bringing his finger down to show declining sales.\nEllison was referring to the time when Apple\u2019s board fired Jobs in 1985 after he lost a power struggle with then-CEO John Sculley. Apple\u2019s business began to fail. In 1997, Jobs returned as CEO.\nJobs would go on to launch the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad, dominating the music, smartphone and tablet industries.\n\u201cHe\u2019s irreplaceable,\u201d Ellison said. \u201cThey will not be nearly so successful because he\u2019s gone.\u201d\nThe post Apple\u2019s Siri: Once a Pioneer, Now an AI Laggard appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-20T17:12:37-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-21T14:14:16-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apple-Siri-AI.jpg", "tags": [ "AI", "AI Assistants", "Alexa", "Amazon", "Apple", "Apple Intelligence", "artificial intelligence", "Connected Economy", "digital transformation", "Editor's Picks", "Featured News", "Galaxy AI", "Gemini", "Google", "News", "PYMNTS News", "Samsung", "siri", "Smartphones", "Technology", "voice assistants", "voicetech" ] } ] }