Apple Stocks (AAPL) Faces Setbacks Due to AI Competition Heats Up
Apple Stocks are taking a hit as the tech giant lags behind in the AI race. Despite launching Apple Intelligence, delays and internal challenges are making investors rethink AAPL’s growth story.

Summary
- Apple Stocks underperform due to slow progress in generative AI.
- Features promised under “Apple Intelligence” remain delayed or unlaunched.
- Internal restructuring signals urgency as competition from Google, Meta rises.
Apple’s AI Struggles Raise Investor Concerns About Apple Stocks
Apple (AAPL) once led the tech world with iconic devices like the iPhone. But now, it’s falling behind in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence. Despite hiring Google’s AI veteran John Giannandrea back in 2018, the company has struggled to keep up with rivals in large language models and generative AI. This is starting to show in the performance of Apple Stocks, which are being outpaced by other AI-focused tech giants.
What Happened to Apple Intelligence?
Apple’s flagship AI initiative, “Apple Intelligence,” promised upgraded Siri, smarter writing tools, and summarization features in 2024. But internal testing revealed too many flaws. Siri’s revamped version was missing at the iPhone 16 launch. As delays mounted, so did class-action lawsuits from users claiming misleading advertising. For Apple stocks investors, the missed deadlines created uncertainty about Apple’s roadmap.
Leadership Changes and Restructuring
Apple has now reshuffled its internal AI leadership. John Giannandrea no longer oversees Siri or product development. That responsibility has gone to Mike Rockwell, who previously led Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Apple is also looking outside its walls—rumored partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic may help fill the gaps in its AI strategy.
Privacy Policies: A Double-Edged Sword
Unlike Meta or Google, Apple enforces strict data privacy controls. While this earns customer trust, it also prevents the company from collecting the data it needs to train powerful AI models. Combined with late GPU purchases and internal resistance to bold AI investment, it’s a formula that’s slowing Apple down.
Siri’s Reputation Problem
One of the biggest challenges is fixing Siri’s public image. Apple is now planning to separate Siri from the broader “Apple Intelligence” branding to minimize the damage. Engineers are working to rebuild Siri on a new LLM foundation, while also testing a proprietary chatbot internally to match ChatGPT’s capabilities.
Pros
- Strong hardware integration and brand loyalty
- Restructuring efforts show Apple is aware of the problem
- New leadership and AI partnerships could accelerate progress
Cons
- AI rollout delays have affected Apple’s reputation
- Privacy rules limit AI model development
- Siri’s failure to keep up has impacted user experience
Conclusion
Apple (AAPL) is still one of the world’s most valuable companies, but the AI boom is testing its dominance. With rivals pushing ahead, the pressure is on Apple to deliver real results. Investors watching Apple Stocks closely should expect a cautious WWDC 2025, with small AI improvements rather than big breakthroughs. Long-term potential remains, but Apple can no longer afford to stay late to the AI party.
FAQs
Q: What is Apple Intelligence?
A: It’s Apple’s AI platform announced in 2024, meant to offer smarter tools and an upgraded Siri, though many features are still delayed.
Q: Why is Apple lagging in AI?
A: Privacy policies, internal resistance, and late investment in AI chips have held Apple back compared to rivals like Google or Meta.
Q: Should investors worry about Apple Stocks?
A: Not necessarily, but slower AI progress may affect long-term growth potential. Short-term volatility could increase.