The AI Podcast: "Apple Wins The AI Hardware Race"

Host: Jaden Shafer
Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Jaden Shafer shifts his usual critical lens to recognize Apple’s surprising strengths and emerging dominance in the AI-driven hardware space. While Apple has lagged behind in AI software, recent leaks and market data indicate it is positioned to win the AI hardware race—sometimes due to sheer irony rather than master strategy. The episode unpacks Apple’s rumored upcoming devices, the role of Siri and Apple Intelligence, the unique success of Apple Silicon, and why hardware—not software—might ultimately make Apple a big winner in the AI era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Apple’s AI Hardware Push (02:52–08:45)

• Leaked New Devices:

  • AI Pendant (03:40):

    • A small, discreet clip-on device (similar in size to an AirTag) with a camera, designed primarily to pair with the iPhone. Reminiscent of failed products like the Humane AI Pin, but with the Apple touch.
    • Use Case: Like an Apple Watch, but not worn on the wrist—more flexible for users’ preferences.

  • Smart Glasses (N50 project) (05:25):

    • High-resolution cameras, luxury build, potentially launching next year, with December production targets.
    • Quote: "If they can make a premium, luxurious, sleek product, Apple can do really well in the glasses space." — Jaden Shafer (06:47)
    • Competition from Meta (Ray-Ban/Oakley), Snap, and Google.

  • Upgraded AirPods with AI (07:59):

    • Imminent software upgrades to embed AI, akin to Google Assistant/Meta AI in competitors’ headsets.
    • Not technically “innovative”—catching up rather than leading—but a natural and overdue extension of Apple’s ecosystem.

• Wearables Strategy:

  • The hardware approach aims to put “AI everywhere”: in users’ ears, eyes, and on their clothing.
  • Apple’s history of odd but wildly successful hardware (e.g., AirTags) suggests even a ‘body cam’-style pendant could find market success.

2. The Siri & Software Challenge (08:46–11:38)

• Siri’s Slow Progress:

  • Software lag is Apple’s Achilles’ heel; despite big promises with “Apple Intelligence” (2024), rollout has been perpetually delayed.
  • Apple’s next-gen Siri, powered by Google Gemini, is still struggling—originally planned for iOS 6.4 (March launch), now possibly delayed to iOS 27.
  • Quote: "The only thing they really got to stick the landing on is the software side." — Jaden Shafer (09:55)
  • The core problem: building a system-level AI assistant is “a lot harder than just bolting a chatbot onto an app.”

• Comparisons to Google/Startups:

  • Google and smaller companies have already shipped sufficiently potent AI assistants.
  • No leniency given for Apple’s delays: “I don’t give them any passes on being slow on the software side of things.”

3. The Accidental Hardware Win: Mac Minis & Local AI (11:39–13:53)

• OpenClaw’s Viral Popularity & How It Benefits Apple:

  • OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent platform, exploded in popularity—users needed cheap, effective local hardware.
  • Surprising result: The $599 M4 Mac Mini became the go-to device for running OpenClaw; “Mac Minis were sold out at a ton of different locations.”

• Why Apple Hardware Wins:

  • Unified Memory Architectures: Excellent price-to-performance for local AI inference, no need for expensive Nvidia GPUs.
  • Practical Impact: Organizations are buying dozens, creating local AI clusters (“…they give each of them like its own employee and give them their own email and Slack address…”).

• Ironic Success:

  • Apple is raking in hardware revenue as everyone else races for software and data centers.
  • Quote: “It’s just hilarious to me that Apple might be a massive winner in this whole AI space just because people are using their hardware to run all the AI that is being created, even though they’re very slow and behind in the software space.” — Jaden Shafer (12:51)

• Capex Comparison (13:53):

  • Apple’s capital expenditure remains flat, unlike Google, Meta, and Microsoft, who are “spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build out data centers for everything.”

4. The Road Ahead: Rumors and Opportunities (13:54–14:46)

• Mysterious Apple Event (March)

  • "Special Apple Experience”: Not held in Cupertino, but simultaneously in New York, Shanghai, and London—a shift from tradition.
  • Anticipation for new Mac, iPad, iPhone 17e, wearables, or (finally) Siri updates.
  • Apple’s transition: From “AI as a feature” to “AI as infrastructure”—especially wearables that “see and hear” everywhere.

• Final Assessment

  • Hardware is Apple's current strength; software remains its biggest risk.
  • The race for AI dominance is accelerating, and Apple should not be counted out.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Apple's Hardware Strategy:

  • “Apple does kind of come out with these crazy hardware plays that end up being really, I don’t know, really popular. You could think of AirTags…incredibly popular, but kind of a random device.” (08:25)

• On Siri’s Delays:

  • “Apple should be able to figure this out. I’m not giving them a pass on it, but there is…some tricky sides to this.” (11:18)

• On Mac Minis Powering Local AI:

  • “People are buying these Mac Minis in bulk to run these tools, which is just hilarious. Hilarious to me.” (13:05)
  • “Apple is, you know, slow and kind of behind on all the software, but somehow the hardware is. They’re making all their money and maybe this is their strategy all along.” (13:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Apple’s Rumored AI Wearables: 02:52–08:45
• The Siri and Software Problem: 08:46–11:38
• Mac Minis & Local AI Agents: 11:39–13:53
• The Upcoming Special Apple Event: 13:54–14:46

Tone and Style

The episode is conversational, candid, and a mix of wry skepticism and genuine enthusiasm. Jaden Shafer is critical yet fair—giving Apple overdue praise while not holding back about persistent shortcomings.

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the direction of consumer AI, highlighting Apple’s paradoxical position as both a laggard and an unexpected winner in AI’s hardware revolution. While Apple’s software may be muddling along, its hardware is powering a surprising amount of the AI boom—and could be setting the stage for a major comeback.