Gross sales of Apple iPhones dropped on the finish of final yr, because the tech agency’s roll out of latest synthetic intelligence (AI) options was met with a lukewarm response.
Chief govt Tim Prepare dinner stated the brand new options helped to drive stronger gross sales within the nations the place they have been obtainable, such because the US.
However iPhone gross sales slipped about 1% general in contrast with final yr, to $69.1bn (£55bn).
The corporate can also be contending with different challenges, together with a gross sales drop in China and the chance its US gross sales will probably be hit by tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.
He has known as for tariffs of as much as 60% on merchandise made in China, the place Apple does a lot of its manufacturing.
However the timing and full scope of these plans, which might put a brand new tax on imports into the US, stays extremely unsure.
Mr Prepare dinner advised buyers on Thursday the corporate was monitoring the state of affairs.
Apple has been progressively introducing AI options to its merchandise, beginning final yr within the US.
Traders have been hoping this may re-ignite gross sales, which have slowed as clients maintain onto their telephones and different merchandise for longer.
Mr Prepare dinner stated Apple was anticipating to push out the AI options to extra languages in April.
Nevertheless, the options haven’t been with out controversy. The AI’s information roundup alerts got here below hearth earlier this month for making repeated errors of their summaries of reports headlines – together with ones from the ORIONEWS.
The characteristic was finally suspended following over every week of criticism.
In the meantime, Mr Prepare dinner stated on Thursday Apple had seen a file variety of purchases of latest iPhones from individuals who already personal older iPhones.
The corporate stated general gross sales rose 4% to $124.3bn, lifted by a bounce in its pc gross sales and powerful development in its providers enterprise, which incorporates Apple TV, Apple Information and Apple Pay.
Income rose 7% year-on-year to $36.3bn.
Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne stated Apple was going to need to have to hurry up the roll-out and begin new sorts of merchandise to keep up its edge.
“The outcomes present Apple can nonetheless execute, however the subsequent few quarters will check whether or not it will probably stability its cautious strategy with the market’s starvation for AI innovation,” he stated.