Succession Race Is On as Apple Prepares for Cook's Departure

Core Insights - Apple is reportedly preparing for a leadership transition as CEO Tim Cook may step down as early as next year, with John Ternus being viewed as a potential successor [2][3][4] - The transition is described as long-planned and not related to current performance, as Apple is expected to see significant iPhone sales [3][4] - The announcement of a new CEO in early 2026 would allow the new leadership to acclimate before major events like the developer conference and iPhone launch [4] Company Performance - Under Tim Cook's leadership since 2011, Apple's market capitalization has increased from $350 billion to $4 trillion [4] - Despite high share prices, Apple is perceived to lag behind competitors like Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) advancements [5] Industry Context - The market has shown strong enthusiasm for AI, with competitors rapidly developing and launching new AI tools, while Apple is seen as needing to catch up [5][7] - Apple is reportedly integrating OpenAI into Siri as part of its strategy to enhance its AI capabilities [7]