Apple embraces the AI craze with its newly unleashed iPhone 16 lineup

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple on Monday charged into the artificial intelligence craze with a new iPhone lineup that marks the company’s latest attempt to latch onto a technology trend and transform it into a cultural phenomenon.

The four different iPhone 16 models will all come equipped with special chips needed to power a suite of AI tools that Apple hopes will make its marquee product even more indispensable and reverse a recent sales slump.

Apple’s AI features are designed to turn its often-blundering virtual assistant Siri into a smarter and more versatile sidekick, automate a wide range of tedious tasks and pull off other crowd-pleasing tricks, such as creating customized emojis within seconds.

After receiving a standing ovation for Monday's event, Apple CEO Tim Cook promised the AI package will unleash “innovations that will make a true difference in people’s lives.”

But the breakthroughs won't begin as soon as the new iPhones — ranging in price from $800 to $1,200 — hit the stores on Sept. 20.

Most of Apple’s AI functions will roll out as part of a free software update to iOS 18, the operating system that will power the iPhone 16 rolling out from October through December. U.S. English will be the featured language at launch but an update enabling other languages will come out next year, according to Apple.

It’s all part of a new approach that Apple previewed at a developers conference three months ago to create more anticipation for a next generation of iPhones amid a rare sales slump for the well-known devices.

Since Apple’s June conference, competitors such as Samsung and Google have made greater strides in AI – a technology widely expected to trigger the most dramatic changes in computing since the first iPhone came out 17 years ago.

Just as Apple elevated fledgling smartphones into a must-have technology in 21st-century society, the Cupertino, California, company is betting it can do something similar with its tardy arrival to artificial intelligence.

In an attempt to set itself apart from the early leaders in AI, the technology being baked into the iPhone 16 is being promoted as “Apple Intelligence.” Despite the unique branding, Apple’s new approach mimics many of the features already available in the Samsung Galaxy S24 released in January and the Google Pixel 9 that came out last month.

“Apple could have waited another year for further development, but initial take up of AI-powered devices from the likes of Samsung has been encouraging, and Apple is keen to capitalize on this market,” said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore.

As it treads into new territory, Apple is trying to preserve its longtime commitment to privacy by tailoring its AI so that most of its technological tricks can be processed on the device itself instead of relying on giant banks of computers located in remote data centers. When a task needs to connect to a data center, Apple promises it will be done in a tightly controlled way that ensures no personal data is stored remotely.

While corralling the personal information shared through Apple’s AI tools inherently reduces the chances the data will be exploited or misused against a user’s wishes, it doesn’t guarantee iron-clad security. A device could still be stolen, for instance, or hacked through digital chicanery.

For those seeking to access even more AI tools than being offered by the iPhone, Apple is teaming up with OpenAI to give users the option of farming out more complicated tasks to the popular ChatGPT chatbot.

Although Apple is releasing a free version of its operating system to propel its on-device AI features, the chip needed to run the technology is only available on the iPhone 16 lineup and the high-end iPhone 15 models that came out a year ago.

That means most consumers who are interested in taking advantage of Apple’s approach to AI will have to buy one of the iPhone 16 models — a twist that investors are counting on will fuel a surge in demand heading into the holiday season.

The anticipated sales boom is the main reason Apple’s stock price has climbed by more than 10% since the June developers conference, including a slight uptick Monday after the shares initially slipped following the showcase for the latest iPhones. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives was so impressed with what he saw Monday that he predicted the new AI iPhones will propel Apple's market value through the $4 trillion threshold next year for the first time. That forecast translates into increase of roughly 20% from Monday's closing price of $220.91 for Apple's stock.

Besides its latest iPhones, Apple also introduced a new version of its smartwatch that will include a feature to help detect sleep apnea as well the next generation of its wireless headphones, the AirPods Pro, that will be able to function as a hearing aid with an upcoming software update.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, second from right, smiles as he shows the new iPhone 16 model to attendees at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Apple CEO Tim Cook talks on the stage during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Apple CEO Tim Cook walks on the stage during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Apple Watches are displayed during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

The AirPods Max are displayed at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

The AirPods Max are displayed at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

The new iPhone 16 is displayed during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Attendees take a closer look at the Apple iPhone 16 during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

The Apple iPhone 16 is displayed during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

The new iPhone 16 is displayed at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Apple CEO Tim Cook talks on the stage during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Apple CEO Tim Cook talks on the stage during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Attendees wait inside and outside the Steve Jobs Theater before an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Apple CEO Tim Cook walks on the stage during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

Apple CEO Tim Cook talks on the stage during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada)

FILE - The iPhone 15 Pro is shown after its introduction on the Apple campus, Sept. 12, 2023, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to another strong start, though coach Todd Bowles understandably is playing down the significance of being 2-0 for a fourth straight season.

Despite going on to win the NFC South each of the past three years, the Bucs had to overcame midseason struggles and inconsistency — especially under Bowles in 2022 and 2023 — to finish on top of a division where they're expected to be challenged again by the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.

“It's a new season, still have a lot of games left,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after Sunday's 20-16 road win over the Detroit Lions, who defeated Tampa Bay twice last season, including in the divisional round of the playoffs.

“It was a big win," Bowles echoed. "But it's 2-0. ... We won the first two games last year and you see what happened after that.”

Two years ago — with Tom Brady in the final season of his career, and Bowles beginning his stint as coach — the Bucs rallied to win the division with a losing record (8-9). They dropped six of seven following a 3-1 start in 2023, then went 5-1 down the stretch to repeat as division champs and make the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

Sunday's confidence-bolstering win at Detroit, which came within one victory of reaching the Super Bowl last season, served notice that the Mayfield-led Bucs have a chance to better this year.

“There's a lot of stuff that we can fix,” Mayfield said after Tampa Bay was outgained 463 yards to 216 and converted just two of 10 third downs against the Lions, who turned ball over twice and only scored one touchdown on seven trips inside the red zone.

“But for us, building chemistry and building this resiliency and the culture that we want, this is a huge win,” Mayfield added, “so we have to continue to build on that.”

The offense wasn't nearly as efficient against Detroit as it was the previous week in a 17-point victory over Washington, but receiver Chris Godwin continues to thrive as he gets acclimated to the system installed by first-year offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

Godwin had seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown — all in the first half — against the Lions. Through two games, the eighth-year pro has 15 receptions for 200 yards. With two TDs receiving, he's already matched his total from last season.

The offensive line had problems protecting Mayfield, allowing five sacks while playing without starting RT Luke Goedeke (concussion). The number would have been higher if not for the quarterback's mobility and knack for escaping pressure.

CB Zyon McCollum, who cleared the concussion protocol in time to be cleared to play against Lions, intercepted Jared Goff on the first offensive play of the game. S Christian Izien, who came off the bench in Week 1 to play cornerback after the Bucs lost three players to injury at the position, started Sunday and had an interception while filling in for injured All-Pro S Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot).

After showing signs of life with 112 yards rushing the previous week against Washington, the running game looked a lot like the listless ground attack that ranked last in the NFL each of the past two seasons. Detroit limited the Bucs to 70 yards on 23 attempts. Mayfield led the way with 34 yards on five carries, including an 11-yard TD run that put Tampa Bay ahead for good.

There was encouraging news Monday on DT Vita Vea (knee), who left Sunday's game in the second half and did not return.

“He's got an MCL sprain, grade 2,” Bowles said. “Right now, he's day to day but not ruled out” for Sunday's game against visiting Denver.

1 — The number of red-zone touchdowns allowed by the Bucs' defense despite the Lions making seven trips inside the Tampa Bay 20. Opponents have had six or more red-zone possessions in a game against Tampa Bay 15 times since 2000. Sunday was the only time in that stretch the defense yielded one or fewer TDs.

The Bucs host the Broncos and rookie quarterback Bo Nix on Sunday. They also faced a rookie QB in Week 1, defeating No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels and Washington. Since Bowles arrived in Tampa Bay as defensive coordinator in 2019, the Bucs are 11-5 against rookie QBs.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield scrambles for a 11-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)