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CNN
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Apple has announced the date of its next big event, where it is expected to launch the iPhone 16.
On Monday, September 9, the tech giant is hosting a special event called “It’s Glowtime.” The event will take place at 10 a.m. PT at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park and It will be broadcast online.
While it’s not yet clear what “glowtime” refers to, built-in AI is expected to be a key feature of the latest iPhones.
In June, Apple announced a suite of generative AI features for the iPhone at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The company unveiled the first batch of “Apple Intelligence” tools, from personalized emoji created by Apple’s AI to a smarter Siri that can answer questions about your schedule, what’s in your email and when your loved one’s plane is landing.
While iPhone 15 Pro Max users will likely have access to at least some AI features, the upcoming iPhone 16 is expected to be the first device designed entirely with AI in mind.
Apple also announced during the conference a partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which faces its own scrutiny and challenges.
AI has been built into some iPhone features for years now, such as: Live text But improved generative AI could build on these features to enhance interaction and personalization, potentially making the new iPhone the first phone specifically designed with some of these features in mind.
But Angelo Zeno, a technology analyst at CFRA Research, said the outlook for the iPhone 16 is weak, as new AI features will roll out over the next few years — improved Siri could come as late as 2025, for example, Zeno said.
“This will be more of an evolutionary process than a big cycle like the iPhone cycle,” Zeno said.
Generative AI enables tools to generate written works, images, and even audio in response to user requests.
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Apple’s foray into AI will likely come through Siri, the company’s virtual assistant, analysts say. Combining Siri with OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT-4o model could allow the assistant to remember a photo taken years ago, provide more specific information, and perhaps even learn about a user’s preferences and personality over time.
The launch of this phone could change Apple’s trajectory in terms of iPhone sales. iPhone sales in China have been declining due to unstable economic conditions and increasing competition.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the device’s launch is how much it will cost. Apple fans have debated for years whether iPhone models should be cheaper, while investors would rather maximize profits. CFRA doesn’t expect iPhone 16 prices to go up much, but the inclusion of AI capabilities “could lead to a general price increase,” Zeno said.
Apple’s competitors have already entered the generative AI space, such as Samsung. Circle Search Featurewhich allows users to quickly search for information on the device screen using a finger gesture.
CNN’s Samantha Kelly contributed to this report.
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