Apple's shares soared to a new record high following the announcement of its long-awaited foray into artificial intelligence (AI) at its annual developer conference. The tech giant unveiled a host of new AI features, including an updated Siri, integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, writing assistance tools, and customizable emojis, positioning itself as a leader in consumer AI.
The market responded positively to Apple's AI push, with shares rising 5% to around $203 per share. Analysts from Morgan Stanley hailed Apple's AI features as the most differentiated consumer digital agent, predicting that they will drive iPhone upgrades and accelerate device replacement cycles.
Bank of America analysts echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the potential for an upgrade cycle for AI-enabled iPhones. They maintained a buy rating on the stock, citing the promise of a multi-year upgrade cycle and potential for gross margin upside and services growth.
Evercore analysts expressed increased confidence in Apple's AI strategy, particularly in its ability to incentivize users to upgrade their devices. They believe that restricting Apple Intelligence to recent iPhone models could catalyze an iPhone super cycle.
Investors are optimistic about Apple's AI announcements, viewing them as a catalyst for growth and a driver of consumer demand. As the company prepares to roll out its AI features in the fall, all eyes will be on Apple to deliver on its promise of innovation and differentiation in the increasingly competitive AI landscape.
Comments