“People want physical things,” Ternus said, pointing to calls, photos and images of loved ones as uses that still need a device. His argument is that Apple does not need to build the most powerful model for its phones and computers to remain useful interfaces for increasingly capable AI.
That hardware case now includes the iPhone Duo, Apple's newly unveiled foldable phone. TIME reports that the device starts at $1,999 and opens from a pocket-size phone into a tablet-like screen. Apple built its hinge with more than 100 precision components and used a custom-polymer surface designed to make the center crease less noticeable. Those engineering claims come from Apple and TIME's reporting; the product's commercial success remains uncertain.
Apple's AI answer
Apple executives described a narrower AI strategy focused on personalization, device integration and privacy. TIME reports that the new Siri launched in the U.S. in September and runs on an Apple model that uses Google's Gemini technology, an unusual reliance on a rival for a central product feature.
Apple says Siri can draw, with permission, from messages, emails, calendars, documents and health data to handle practical tasks. The company also says requests are processed on the device when possible, while more demanding work is sent to Private Cloud Compute, a server system designed not to retain users' queries.
Ternus is betting Apple does not need to lead frontier-model development to remain essential. TIME frames the device, operating system and personal context as Apple's strategic assets, even when another company provides the underlying model.
