KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index recouped earlier losses to settle higher, maintaining a more than six-year high, buoyed by continued buying interest in technology stocks, while the strengthening of the ringgit against the US dollar further lifted investor sentiment. At 2.27 pm today, the local currency strengthened to 3.9992 versus the greenback, its strongest level in more than seven years. It was last seen at this level on June 18, 2018, at 3.9960/9990. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 2.85 points or 0.17 per cent to 1,719.99 from yesterday’s close of 1,717.14. The index surpassed its previous peak of 1,719.00 recorded on Feb 26, 2019. The barometer index opened 1.30 points lower at 1,715.84 and moved between an intraday low of 1,711.89 in early trade and a high of 1,723.41 in late afternoon before slipping slightly toward the close. However, market breadth was negative with decl...
Apple may finally be making the decisive AI move the market has been demanding.
According to reports, Apple has confirmed a long-rumoured partnership with Google, integrating Gemini into the next generation of Siri. The upgraded AI assistant is expected to roll out later this year, marking a strategic shift in Apple’s approach to artificial intelligence.
Why This Deal Matters
For years, investors have criticised Apple for lagging behind Big Tech peers in AI, especially as companies like Google, Microsoft and Nvidia raced ahead with large language models and AI platforms.
The Gemini partnership addresses three key concerns at once:
Speed to market: Apple gains access to a best-in-class AI model instead of building everything internally
Product relevance: Siri has long been viewed as inferior to competing assistants
Monetisation potential: Opens the door to AI-driven subscription services
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives called the deal “a necessary move”, noting that Wall Street has been waiting for Apple to show it is serious about AI execution, not just vision.
How Apple’s AI Stack Could Look
According to Evercore ISI, Apple is likely to deploy a three-layer AI architecture:
On-device AI for privacy-sensitive tasks
Apple Private Cloud Compute for heavier workloads
External large language models, including Gemini, for advanced reasoning
This hybrid model allows Apple to scale AI quickly while preserving its privacy-first branding, a key differentiator versus peers.
Notably, Bloomberg previously reported that Gemini could run on Apple’s own servers, rather than Google’s infrastructure — reinforcing Apple’s control over user data.
Market Reaction So Far
Apple shares rose modestly on the news
Alphabet shares gained around 1%
The muted reaction suggests expectations were already high, but also that investors are waiting for proof of execution
Apple shares are up about 10% over the past 12 months, underperforming the broader market — a gap many attribute to AI scepticism.
What Investors Should Watch Next
Key upcoming catalysts include:
WWDC and product launches showcasing AI-powered Siri features
Clarity on AI subscription offerings and pricing
Evidence that AI upgrades can drive services revenue and ecosystem stickiness
If Apple can translate Gemini integration into tangible user experience improvements, sentiment around the stock could shift meaningfully.
Investment Takeaway
The Gemini deal doesn’t instantly turn Apple into an AI leader — but it removes a major overhang.
For investors, this partnership signals that Apple is pivoting from AI caution to AI acceleration. Execution will be critical, but if successful, this could be the moment Apple repositions itself in the AI race — and gives the stock the catalyst it has been missing.
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