AAPL: Apple Stock Steady Ahead of Annual WWDC Conference. Here’s What to Expect.

Shares of the iPhone maker are down more than 16% this year and AI is still shoved somewhere it’s not really making a difference. Maybe things change this week?

👀 All Eyes on Cupertino: WWDC Kickoff

• Apple stock AAPL was treading water in futures trading as Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference was ready to kick off Monday. Expectations are sky-high — will Tim Cook’s geeky crew finally deliver an AI story worth scrolling through?
• At the five-day long event, the Cupertino-based tech titan is set to unveil updates to iOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS, with investors hoping to see AI woven deeply into the next-gen technology.
• With Apple stock down 16% year-to-date, one key thing might jolt the stock back to life — artificial intelligence. Or, more precisely, how Apple is leveraging the power of AI to introduce better products and experiences.

🤖 AI Aspirations: Is Apple In or Out?

• After a tepid AI rollout at last year’s WWDC venue — delayed features and vague branding under the "Apple Intelligence" umbrella — many believe Apple’s moment to shine is now or never.
• The company has fallen behind rivals like Microsoft MSFT and Nvidia NVDA in the AI arms race, a reality reflected in Apple losing its No. 1 market cap status. The other two are, by the way, battling it out for the top spot.
• Still, with over two billion active devices, Apple holds a unique edge: any AI feature it rolls out reaches a user base that others can only dream of.

🙏 Big Audience, Bigger Pressure

• While Apple’s loyal fanbase will tune in no matter what, there’s a growing sense that the company must deliver more than iterative updates like a thinner bezel.
• Investors want to know how AI will actually drive revenue — not just sit tucked away in device settings. Will Siri finally graduate from remedial school?
• And let’s not forget the Vision Pro lesson: a splashy launch doesn’t always translate to long-term impact. Apple’s big reveal this week needs both flash and follow-through.