As Apple Inc. confronts a significant 19% drop in iPhone sales, the tech giant is finding solace in its rapidly growing services sector and wearable technology, helping offset declines in its flagship product. This perspective comes from Jason Ware, Chief Investment Officer at Albion Financial Group, during a detailed discussion on CNBC about the key metrics in Apple’s latest earnings report.

Ware explained that the decline in iPhone sales, particularly in critical markets like China, poses a serious concern for Apple. “It is a concern,” he said, referring to Apple’s competition in China, which represents a substantial portion of the company’s overall business. Ware highlighted Apple’s resilience despite these challenges, supported by solid performance in other segments. “Fortunately, there is a notable offset in the wearables category, which is growing,” Ware noted, pointing to the broader diversification of Apple’s revenue streams.

Amid these financial shifts, Ware emphasized the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Apple’s future strategy. The tech community is enthusiastic about what could be a major reveal of Apple’s AI strategy at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. “Apple is one of the large mega tech companies which have not yet articulated an AI strategy,” Ware stated, underscoring the high expectations from investors and industry watchers alike.

Ware detailed potential applications and the importance of AI integration across Apple’s suite of products and services. “Investors want to know,” he asserted, referencing Apple’s acquisition of Darwin AI in March and potential partnerships, such as with Google on projects like Gemini. “Apple is working on AI. We need to see what that story looks like.”

The conversation turned to the expected impact of AI on Apple’s product lines, from the iPhone to the App Store. “It can show up in the iPhone 16 or in the App Store,” Ware speculated. He highlighted that the real focus for the upcoming quarter would be how Apple plans to integrate AI to enhance user experiences and operational efficiency. “There will be a lot of focus on that in the quarter,” he added.

Ware also touched on Apple’s regulatory challenges, particularly in China, where the government has issued advisories against using Apple phones. While acknowledging these issues, Ware downplayed their immediate impact. “Not so much,” he responded when asked about his concerns regarding regulation. “Apple antitrust is a headline risk. It hit the stock, but it has been sideways since the report came out. This is a multi-year work in the courts and will probably not lose in our view.”

As Apple gears up for its annual developer conference, the industry is on the edge, waiting to see how the company will navigate its AI journey. Ware’s insights suggest that while challenges remain, particularly in hardware sales, Apple’s strategic pivot towards AI and continued service innovation could define its path forward in the evolving tech landscape.