Markets
February 13, 2026
Following a Bloomberg report on the delay in Siri upgrades, AAPL stock fell 5% on Thursday, one of the largest declines since April ’25. The AAPL drop wiped out all the gains the stock had made this year.
The iPhone makers’ plan to integrate AI into Siri for an upgraded experience has again run into hurdles. According to Bloomberg, the upgrade, initially slated for release in early 2025, was deferred to March 2026 but has now been delayed by another couple of months after encountering software issues.
The news didn’t go down well with investors. It reignited fears that Apple hasn’t been able to keep pace with its rivals in the AI landscape. After the latest Apple AI setback, the AAPL stock is now trading at $261.73.
Also Read: Brazil’s Bitcoin Reserve Bill Seeks Government Purchase of 1M BTC
Apple Stock Plunge Driven by AI Setback, Regulatory Pressure, and Risk-Off Sentiment
For years, Apple has been considered a safe stock. But the recent drop in AAPL is a sign of current market risk-off sentiment.
Investors are closely monitoring developments, and with artificial intelligence being the driving force for the past year, Apple’s AI setback amplified those concerns and contributed to the sell-off.
Adding to it were reports of Apple’s regulatory pressure. The FTC chairman, Andrew N. Ferguson, issued a warning letter to Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, following reports that Apple was systematically suppressing news from right-leaning outlets while boosting that from left-wing sources in its Apple News app.
Also Read: BMNR Stock Jumps as BlackRock Boosts Bitmine Stake by 165%
The letter released by the FTC read,
“As the Chairman of the FTC, I write to inform you of your obligations under the FTC Act. Any act or practice by Apple News to suppress or promote news articles based on the perceived ideological or political viewpoint of the article or publication, if inconsistent with Apple’s terms of service or the reasonable expectations of consumers, may violate the FTC Act.”
Recent events, including the Apple stock plunge in the equity market and Bitcoin’s setback in the crypto market, signal that investors are more cautious than ever.
Although Apple’s recent earnings report beat the Wall Street expectations, the markets have become forward-looking. Investors are more concerned about Apple’s position in the AI landscape and regulatory pressure, rather than what historical data suggests.
Similarly, with Bitcoin, the past few months have witnessed a massive price drop, fuelled by uncertainty and market risk-off sentiment. Although some analysts see signs of a reversal.
Also Read: Crypto Panic Hits Its Breaking Point and That Is When Smart Money Strikes
Apple’s stock plunge shouldn’t be treated simply as a company-specific event, but rather as a macro indicator of market sentiment. Because the markets have become unforgiving, even for the supposedly safe names.
