On September 10 (local time), during the Goldman Sachs Communacopia+ Technology Summit, John Stankey, the CEO of AT&T, voiced his concerns. He suggested that the days of skyrocketing iPhone sales may be behind us, unless Apple can make significant strides in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI).

Stankey emphasized that contemporary devices are predominantly software-centric, and the evolution of software is a gradual process, not contingent upon the introduction of new hardware platforms. He warned that without substantial progress in AI, Apple might find it challenging to replicate its legendary, high-volume sales cycles.

Furthermore, he remarked that if the iPhone 17 series fails to deliver a remarkable leap forward, it risks being perceived merely as a routine update rather than an essential new purchase. This scenario starkly contrasts with the iPhone's golden era, when eager consumers would throng to stores to snap up the latest models as soon as they hit the shelves.