Apple appoints John Ternus as CEO amid AI and supply challenges

Tim Cook, who led Apple for a decade and a half, has handed the CEO position to John Ternus, a long-time Apple executive with deep experience in device design. The leadership change occurs at a critical juncture for the $4.75 trillion firm, which is grappling with intensifying AI competition from firms like OpenAI and a looming memory-chip shortage that threatens profit margins. Recent product cycles have been marked by incremental upgrades and mixed reception to initiatives such as the Vision Pro headset and Siri updates.

Industry observers suggest Ternus’s hardware expertise could steer Apple toward more ambitious design choices and greater spending on R&D, capital projects and strategic acquisitions, including the recent $2 billion purchase of AI startup Q.ai. He will debut his first major public appearance at Apple’s September 9 product launch, signaling the start of a new era for the company.