Apple’s iPhone 16 to Highlight AI Features Over Hardware

Apple is set to unveil its highly anticipated iPhone 16 lineup, with a significant focus on artificial intelligence (AI) features rather than the usual hardware enhancements. The event, held at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, will showcase the company’s advancements in AI, introduced as Apple Intelligence during its June developer conference.

Key AI features include an enhanced version of Siri, integrated with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which can generate text and images on command. However, the rollout of these features in China could face delays due to regulatory approval, as OpenAI restricted access to ChatGPT in the country earlier this year.

Apple’s new AI-powered iPhone 16 arrives amid heightened competition from rivals like Huawei, particularly in the Chinese market, where consumers are eager for AI-driven features. With iPhones representing over half of Apple’s $383 billion in sales last year, the company is banking on the new AI capabilities to encourage upgrades, despite slowing iPhone sales.

The iPhone 16 series will be the first to center around these AI innovations, though certain features will also be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Apple is also expected to introduce new versions of the Apple Watch and AirPods during the event.

Competitors such as Google’s Pixel smartphones have also been ramping up AI integrations, with features like Gemini Live, a digital assistant offering live voice conversations.

Apple’s Apple Intelligence will initially launch in the U.S. this fall, with a delayed release in Europe due to regulatory constraints.