[meatmanek]

I think there's a lot of false assumptions in that assertion:

   - that a bunch of users won't jump ship if Apple stagnates for 5 years
   - that a product based on a model with Q12026 SoTA performance would be competitive with products using 2031's models.
   - that just having access to good (by 2025/2026 standards) models is the big thing that Apple needs in order for Apple Intelligence to finally be useful.

On that last point, I think the OS/app-level features are almost more important than the model itself. If the model can't _do_ anything, it doesn't really matter how intelligent it is. If Apple sits on their laurels for 5 years, would their OS, built-in apps, and 3rd-party apps have all the hooks needed for a useful AI product?

[ASalazarMX]

> - that a bunch of users won't jump ship if Apple stagnates for 5 years

This is the most unlikely proposition, given how Apple has managed to be a decade behind and still very profitable.

Besides that, having a Claw-like AI with full access to your phone is surely a recipe for disaster. IMO Apple is being justifiably cautious in staying an spectator, looking busy, and waiting to make a deal with the winner of the chatbot wars.

[keeda]

How is Apple a decade behind if modern AI is only 3 years old and compelling use-cases are starting to appear on devices now?

And concerningly, their AI products, like their search, will be powered by their biggest competitor in the mobile space. If AI becomes a killer feature, Google has the power to cripple the iBusiness simply by not renewing their current deal. At the least they should have adopted the Microsoft strategy and gotten into bed with all other major AI players.

I get the sense Apple leadership was never bought into the AI revolution (cf their anemic product releases, some of the papers they published) and we're seeing a shakeup in their ranks because they've realized they made the wrong bet.

[tim333]

Apple doesn't seem to be staganting at all on the hardware front. As to software I'd prefer they didn't force AI upon me in the manner of Microsoft.