Apple surpassed Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable company. The latest AI announcements at its annual developers’ conference fueled this achievement.
The tech giant had lost its leading position to Microsoft earlier in January when investors favoured Microsoft’s aggressive deployment of generative AI products through its CoPilot brand. However, Apple regained the top spot, albeit momentarily, with its stock peaking before Microsoft closed the day slightly ahead with a valuation of $3.27 trillion against Apple’s $3.26 trillion.
At the conference, Apple introduced a new AI platform, “Apple Intelligence,” which will be integrated into the upcoming iOS 18 operating system. This advanced technology will only be available on Apple’s most premium devices, requiring consumers to invest in high-end hardware to access the new AI features.
Analysts, who were initially hesitant, now believe the innovative AI capabilities will drive Apple’s vast user base of 1.5 billion to upgrade their devices.
In a Wednesday interview on the Marques Brownlee podcast, Apple CEO Tim Cook shared insights into the company’s cautious approach to generative AI.
Acknowledging the potential pitfalls of AI, Cook emphasized that the company never dismissed the technology but chose to pursue it thoughtfully. He noted that Apple has implemented the technology to mitigate the risk of violating data privacy.
