WWDC2024isjustaroundthecorner,andApplemayusethisannualdeveloperconferencetolaythegroundworkforhowitsAI-basedAppStorewillwork.

ThisinformationcomesfromarecentinterviewonCNBCwithBenReitzes,headoftechnologyatresearchandinvestmentfirmMeliusResearch.Intheinterview,ReitzeswasaskedwhenhethinksApple'sfinalmoveonAIwillbe,andherespondedaboutthepossibilityofanAIappstore.

"IthinkinJunewewillstartlayingthegroundworkforthisnewAppStore,howitwillworkwithAI,andhowyoucanpurchaseAIappsthroughtheAppStore,"Reitzessaid.

"Applewillhaveitsownapps,asalways,andwe'llseeanupgradetotheAIassistant,hopefullySiri,sowe'llseewhathappens.

Justrecently,AppleunveileditsnewMM1AImodel.ThisisamultimodalmodelthatusesAI-generateddataandlabelstospeedupthetrainingofnewmodels;theMM1A1isbelievedtobethebasisforthenewversionofSiri.

ReitzesnotedApple'spastsuccessincreatingastorefront,notingthatthecompany"hasahistoryofconvincingmanyleaderstocreateappsanddothingswiththemwhileperfectingtheecosystem."

ReitzesaddedthathebelievesAppleisdoingthesamewithAI.AppleisreportedlytalkingwithGoogleaboutbringingGoogle'sAImodel,Gemini,totheiPhone,butReitzesbelievesthereismoretoApple'sAIeffortsthanthat.Hesaid,"TheyaretalkingaboutGooglebeingoneofthemanymodelsyoucanaccesssothatthisnewtypeofappstorecanleverageAI."

Reitzessaidthat"thesiliconandsoftwarewillbereallyoptimizedtohandleAIattheedgeoftheiPhone,sothatyougetasuperiorexperience,withnodelays."

ThisisnotthefirsttimethatthereistalkofupgradescomingtotheiPhonehardware.Thisisnotthefirsttime.RecentleaksindicatethattheiPhone16willreceiveanumberofupgradesaimedatimprovingtheAIexperience,includingmoreRAMandstorageoptions,nottomentionimprovementswiththeupcomingA18serieschip,whichisexpectedtoarriveinphonesthisfall

ReitzisalsoexpectedtobethefirsttoofferthenewA18serieschip.

WhetherornotReitzes'predictioncomestrue,itisclearthatAppleisabouttohittheAImarkethard;morewillberevealedatWWDC2024,whichwilllikelytakeplaceinJune.