Apple's Ambitious Moves: A Surge in Stock, Siri's AI Revolution, and $1 Trillion US Investment

As of last week, Apple (AAPL) saw a 4.24% increase, marking a three-day consecutive rise, gaining 13.02% over the past three days. Over the past week, it rose 13.33%, though year-to-date, it has seen an 8.23% decline with a current market capitalization of $3.403 trillion.

Apple's delay in upgrading Siri this year has shed light on the company's struggles in the AI sector and sparked internal transformation efforts. The most significant setback wasn't the much-anticipated feature that would allow Siri to extract personal data from messages, emails, and photos to complete complex tasks. Insiders reveal that a true breakthrough lies in the improved App Intents system, enabling Siri to fully control both third-party and Apple apps using only voice commands. Theoretically, this would allow users to edit and send photos, comment on social media, shop online, or log into services without touching a screen.

A successful implementation would achieve Apple's long-promised vision of "hands-free operation" dating back nearly 15 years with Siri's launch, setting the foundation for future hardware, including planned smart displays and even desktop robots. The development delay of the App Intents feature has pushed back the release of a smart display by a year. Apple's global data operations team is prioritizing testing, aiming for a spring release alongside broader Siri infrastructure upgrades. Initial tests have been limited to apps such as Uber, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Apple’s own software, with more sensitive applications like banking and healthcare facing stricter limitations or complete exclusion.

Ensuring Siri accurately operates various applications, particularly in high-risk tasks, remains crucial. Errors in trivial tasks might be inconsequential, but mistakes in financial transactions could be catastrophic. Reports suggest Apple's cautious rollout reflects the risks and potential of creating a new voice-interaction interface for its ecosystem. If successful, this could surprise users with new functionalities.

Apple recently announced a substantial investment in the United States, totaling $1,000 billion. This investment aligns with strategies to counter potential tariff impacts from the Trump administration, which proposed a 100% tariff on imported semiconductors. Committing to domestic manufacturing could lead to tariff exemptions. This move is part of Apple's broader plan, announced in February, to invest $500 billion, bringing the total investment to $600 billion over four years.

The new investment will focus on building server manufacturing facilities and localizing supply chains. Apple has initiated the "American Manufacturing Plan" (AMP), enhancing cooperation with companies like Corning, Coherent, and others, aiming to transfer advanced manufacturing processes to the U.S.

Analysts suggest Apple’s strategic investments have significantly alleviated tensions between the company and the White House, securing strategic space for long-term growth despite not achieving full domestic manufacturing of core products like the iPhone. Future investments will likely focus on Mac, AI, and other non-critical areas.

Reports indicate Apple's forthcoming fall event could see iPhone 17 series price hikes due to tariff pressures, with Air, Pro, and Pro Max models seeing increases of $50, while the standard model retains its entry price of $799.