Apple's AI Imperative: Analyst Warns of 'BlackBerry Moment'
A stark warning has been issued to Apple, suggesting the tech giant risks a pivotal “BlackBerry Moment” if it fails to aggressively embrace the burgeoning wave of generative artificial intelligence. According to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, Apple, despite its vast ecosystem of 2.4 billion iOS devices, is currently “on a park bench drinking lemonade” while its competitors are “zipping around the AI track like an F1 car.” This critical assessment underscores a growing concern that Apple’s perceived cautiousness in the AI race could lead to a significant misstep, reminiscent of BlackBerry’s dramatic decline.
The “BlackBerry Moment” analogy is a potent one, recalling the rapid downfall of the once-dominant smartphone maker. BlackBerry’s failure stemmed primarily from its inability to adapt swiftly to the touchscreen revolution and the burgeoning app ecosystem, clinging instead to its physical keyboards and enterprise-centric focus as consumer preferences shifted dramatically. This cautionary tale highlights the perils of underestimating a technological paradigm shift, a trap Apple is now being warned to avoid in the age of generative AI.
While Apple has indeed introduced its “Apple Intelligence” initiative, first unveiled at WWDC 2024, aiming to make Siri more adaptive and capable of handling complex, multi-step commands, its rollout has been marked by delays. Features such as Live Translation, Genmoji, and enhanced contextual understanding are part of this vision, with Apple emphasizing a privacy-first approach by leveraging on-device 3-billion-parameter models and encrypted cloud processing. However, some advanced Siri capabilities originally slated for early 2025 have been postponed to spring 2026, aligning with iOS 26.4, due to internal testing revealing critical flaws in Siri’s core architecture. This delay is particularly concerning given the rapid advancements by rivals. Reports also indicate Apple is exploring strategic moves, including the potential acquisition of AI search startup Perplexity AI and the establishment of an internal “Answers, Knowledge and Information” (AKI) team to develop a ChatGPT-like AI search experience. Furthermore, Apple is integrating OpenAI’s GPT-5 into Apple Intelligence, expected with iOS 26 in early September, to power more complex Siri queries and enhance writing and visual tools.
In contrast, competitors have already made significant strides in integrating generative AI into their flagship devices. Samsung, for instance, heavily advertises its “Galaxy AI” suite, which debuted with the Galaxy S24 series in early 2024, offering features like real-time voice translation powered by Google’s Gemini. Google’s Pixel phones, meanwhile, leverage their Gemini AI for innovative functionalities such as AI-generated wallpapers and advanced photo editing through Magic Editor. The broader smartphone market in 2025 is seeing major players like Xiaomi and Honor also touting AI-powered cameras, real-time translation, and intelligent personal assistants, often utilizing on-device AI for enhanced speed and privacy.
The current period is critical for Apple. Ives’s urgent recommendations for Apple include acquiring Perplexity AI, recruiting top-tier AI talent, and forging a deeper partnership with Google Gemini to accelerate its generative AI capabilities. With the industry rapidly evolving, Apple’s ability to pivot decisively and integrate groundbreaking AI features will be paramount to maintaining its market leadership and avoiding the fate of past tech giants who underestimated the next technological wave.