Apple's New iPhone 16 Being Revealed at 'Glowtime' Spectacle

Apple kicked off its highly anticipated "It's Glowtime" event on Monday, where the company is expected to unveil the much-anticipated iPhone 16. The event, taking place at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, will also mark a significant step forward in the company's efforts in generative AI.

Dubbed Apple Intelligence, this new AI feature is aimed at making tasks easier for users, according to the company’s preview.

During the Glowtime event, CEO Tim Cook is anticipated to introduce the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, both of which will be powered by Apple Intelligence. However, customers will need to wait a few weeks before they can get their hands on the new devices. Apple Intelligence will be integrated into a forthcoming software update, iOS 18, scheduled for release in October.

Cook will likely highlight how Apple Intelligence will enhance existing tools like Siri, the iPhone's voice assistant.

The event has been described by Dan Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities, as Apple's "most significant upgrade cycle ever."

"This is a landmark event that signifies the beginning of the consumer AI era for Apple," Ives told CBS MoneyWatch. "Approximately 20% of the global population will engage with AI through an Apple device, and it all starts today."

Ives estimates that Apple Intelligence may take until the end of the year to reach its full potential on iPhones. He also suggests that introducing this AI could encourage many long-time iPhone users to upgrade to the newest model.

"With about 300 million iPhones having gone without an upgrade for four years, we anticipate this will lead to one of the strongest years for iPhone sales in Apple's history," Ives said. He noted that users who are wary of AI features can opt to disable them. However, some experts are skeptical about the necessity for users with older models to upgrade immediately, despite the arrival of Apple Intelligence.

"While Apple Intelligence holds significant long-term potential, I’m not convinced that its initial version will offer the transformative usability that some expect," wrote a recent article by Jason Perlow, a senior contributing writer at ZDNet.

Additionally, Apple is expected to reveal updated versions of the Apple Watch and AirPods at the event.

For the new iPhones, the most notable changes are anticipated to be larger screen sizes and improved camera systems, which will include new, user-friendly capture buttons.