# AI awaiting its iPhone moment, says Altman; needs to learn key Apple lesson

> Source: <https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/25/ai-awaiting-its-iphone-moment-says-altman-needs-to-learn-key-apple-lesson/>
> Published: 2026-08-25 12:18:42+00:00

[OpenAI](https://9to5mac.com/guides/openai/) CEO Sam Altman says that [AI](https://9to5mac.com/guides/ai/) is still awaiting its [iPhone](https://9to5mac.com/guides/iphone/) moment, and that he needs to learn a key lesson from [Apple](https://9to5mac.com/guides/aapl/).

He also admits that he was overly ambitious in his idea of how quickly AI would disrupt the economy, but thinks that, paradoxically, the tech will create new opportunities for businesses that don’t use it …