Apple's approach to AI has evolved significantly with the introduction of new generative AI capabilities. The company has shifted from being perceived as lagging behind in the race to develop AI technology to being a strong contender with its Apple Intelligence features. Apple has focused on creating a more bespoke approach to generative AI, tailoring the technology specifically to its user experience2. This has been achieved by integrating AI deeply into its operating systems, such as iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, and by prioritizing privacy and on-device processing4.
One of the key aspects of Apple's approach is the use of foundation models that are fine-tuned for specific tasks and user needs. These models are trained on a combination of licensed datasets and publicly available data collected by its web crawler, AppleBot. The company has also developed an efficient infrastructure that allows for rapid retraining, testing, and deployment of adapters when the base model or training data gets updated.
Apple's new generative AI capabilities include features such as creating email summaries, generating images and emoji, and allowing Siri to take actions on the user's behalf3. These features are achieved through a combination of on-device and cloud processing, with a strong emphasis on privacy. Apple has also partnered with ChatGPT creator OpenAI to power some of these features.
In summary, Apple's approach to AI has evolved to focus on creating a more personalized and integrated AI experience for its users, while maintaining its commitment to privacy. The introduction of new generative AI capabilities has positioned Apple as a strong player in the AI space.
Currently, six companies are valued at over $1 trillion due to their investments in artificial intelligence (AI). These companies are:
Broadcom's recent surge in market cap can be attributed to several factors:
AI Demand: Broadcom has been benefiting from the increased demand for AI products. During the fiscal second quarter, the company mentioned that around 30% of its sales were tied to AI products. This demand is expected to continue as Broadcom's chips and software solutions are used in servers, smartphones, and other enterprise and consumer markets, positioning the company well in the growing AI infrastructure.
Acquisition of VMware: Broadcom's acquisition of VMware in late November contributed to a boost in its market cap5. The deal added about $50 billion to Broadcom's market capitalization at the close of the transaction.
Strong Sales Outlook: Broadcom's strong sales outlook has also contributed to its market cap growth. The company forecasted $51 billion in sales for the fiscal year, slightly above the consensus. Bank of America also raised its sales forecasts for fiscal year 2025 to $59.9 billion, a 16% increase year-over-year, driven by semiconductor sales and Broadcom's VMWare.
Earnings Beat: Broadcom posted estimate-beating earnings, which led to an upgrade of the firm's price target by Bank of America1. The bank reiterated a "buy" rating and increased the price target to $2,000, indicating about 18% upside from current levels.
AI Chip Growth: Broadcom is positioned for growth in custom AI chips, Ethernet networking, and VMware upsell, which are all key areas for the company. Demand from Google and Meta could help Broadcom reach $9 billion in AI revenue this year, according to analysts.
These factors, combined with Broadcom's history of making profitable investments and its strong performance in the AI chip market, have contributed to the recent surge in its market cap.