Apple’s Future CEO Must Introduce an Impressive AI Innovation

Sometime in the next year or two, Apple’s upcoming CEO, John Ternus, will take the stage to unveil a groundbreaking product. He’ll proclaim that this innovation will empower everyone with the remarkable capabilities of AI. While it may not signal a significant leap in AI research, and might not enable users to automate tasks better than many tech-savvy individuals do today, it could introduce a new device, though one is likely in the works if it doesn’t. If all goes well, that keynote will signify Apple’s foray into AI, similar to its contributions to desktop computing, the internet, mobile tech, wearables, and music distribution. It promises to present a solution to a complex technology that feels both delightful and right in hindsight.

For Ternus, this isn’t merely an option. Given that AI represents the future and is utilized by millions, there remains a substantial number of skeptics. Emerging AI technologies like Claude Code and OpenClaw still pose risks or are too technical for widespread adoption. If Apple doesn’t simplify this for the general public, another company will. Tim Cook, the current CEO, who shared this week that he would step down in September to become the board’s executive chairman, has adeptly led the company post-Steve Jobs but has left this crucial area unexplored. The rollout of Apple Intelligence in 2024 was met with fanfare but ultimately proved lackluster and incomplete.

Can Ternus lead such an initiative? It’s difficult to determine, as the current SVP of hardware engineering has largely operated out of the spotlight. He only recently began engaging more with the press upon being recognized as a leading candidate for Cook’s position. People tend to view him as a meticulous planner, akin to Cook, rather than a visionary like Jobs, possibly due to a similarly low-key presence. Perhaps once he ascends to the role, he will feel empowered to aim higher.

My direct interactions with him have been limited. About a decade ago, I spent a day at Apple’s Input Design Lab collaborating with him and his team. “I started in 2001 and have had the privilege of working on many of our products over the years,” he introduced himself. On that occasion, he delved into intricate topics such as quantum dots, cadmium’s environmental impact, and the nuances of light quality. It was evident that he was affable; there was plenty of enjoyable banter among him and his team.

More recently, I inquired about Apple’s future, particularly its strategies for staying ahead in the AI transformation. Ternus recognized AI as “an immense kind of inflection point,” framing it as just one of many significant advancements Apple has experienced. Each successful product—the Apple II, Mac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, and iPad—has built upon its predecessors. “We never think about just delivering technology,” he stated. “Our goal is to provide outstanding products, features, and experiences, without our customers needing to consider the underlying technology that makes it all possible. That’s our perspective on AI.”

That’s well and good, but I recall the mid-2000s when everyone eagerly anticipated Apple’s entry into the phone market. When Jobs finally introduced the product in January 2007, it redefined the mobile landscape. It’s a significant challenge for Ternus to achieve something comparable in the AI era—but it’s a chance that must be embraced. AI poses a threat to the entire iPhone ecosystem. By the end of this decade, it seems unlikely that people will continue to swipe on their phones to book rides with Uber or Lyft. Instead, they may simply instruct their ever-present AI agents to get them home. Or that agent might already know where they need to go, with the car awaiting them without the hassle of a request. “There’s an app for that” might soon give way to “Let the agent handle that.”