PYMNTS.com·2026-01-30 02:36Core Insights - Apple reported a record-breaking quarter, with significant growth in revenue and earnings, highlighting the importance of Apple Intelligence as a business lever and its partnership with Google for AI development [1][7] Group 1: Financial Performance - Apple achieved quarterly revenue of $143.8 billion, representing a 16% year-over-year increase, with diluted EPS of $2.84 [7] - iPhone revenue reached $85.3 billion, up 23% year-over-year, while Services revenue hit an all-time high of approximately $30 billion, increasing by 14% [7] - Sales in greater China surged to $25.5 billion, marking a 38% year-over-year growth, primarily driven by iPhone sales [7] Group 2: Apple Intelligence and AI Strategy - Apple Intelligence is framed as an operating-system-level capability rather than a standalone product, aimed at enhancing the overall ecosystem and monetization opportunities across hardware and services [3][4] - CEO Tim Cook emphasized that the integration of AI features is designed to be personal and private, enhancing user experience without necessarily being tied to a direct revenue model [4] - The potential for revenue growth from AI is linked to improvements in discovery, shopping, customer service, and in-app conversions, which could lead to increased device upgrades and service engagement [4] Group 3: Partnership with Google - Apple announced a partnership with Google, selecting it for its AI technology capabilities while ensuring privacy standards are maintained [5] - Cook stated that Google's AI technology provides a strong foundation for Apple's future developments, although specific deal terms were not disclosed [5] Group 4: Payment Security - Apple Pay reportedly eliminated over $1 billion in fraud for partners in the previous year, with plans to expand the service into more markets [6] - The company is focusing on device-centric security and network tokenization to reduce fraud, indicating ongoing investment in payment security measures [6]