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| Apple Is Falling Behind in AI — And Some Analysts Say Tim Cook Needs to Go. |
Apple might be in trouble — not because of a new product flop or financial loss, but because experts are starting to believe that the company needs a major leadership change. A report from LightShed Partners just dropped a bomb: they think it's time for Tim Cook to step aside as CEO. Their reason? Apple needs a product-focused leader who truly gets the AI game, not someone who's all about supply chains and operations.
Apple Is Playing Catch-Up in the AI Race
Analysts Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone aren’t sugarcoating it. In a note to investors, they warned that Apple is falling way behind when it comes to artificial intelligence. While companies like Meta and Microsoft are killing it with AI development — with their stock prices jumping 25% and 19% in 2025 alone — Apple’s stock actually dropped 16%. That’s a major red flag in a tech world where AI is becoming the center of everything.
They didn’t just say Apple is behind. They basically said if the company doesn’t shift gears fast, it could end up like BlackBerry or Nokia — once tech giants, now case studies in what happens when you move too slow.
Cook's Legacy Is Huge — But Is It Still What Apple Needs?
Let’s be real, Tim Cook isn’t just any CEO. Since he took over, Apple’s stock has skyrocketed by over 1,400%. The S&P 500? Up just 430% in that same time. Under his leadership, Apple became the first $3 trillion company. But here's the deal: Cook built Apple’s empire by mastering logistics and scaling products — not by leading revolutionary innovation. That worked great in the past, but this next chapter may need a whole different kind of playbook.
Leadership Shake-Up Could Be Coming — Or Not
Things got even more interesting when Apple’s longtime Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, once seen as the “next in line,” announced he’s stepping down. His replacement, Sabih Khan, doesn’t seem to be on the shortlist for CEO. Now, all eyes are on John Ternus, Apple’s Senior VP of Hardware Engineering, as the most likely internal candidate.
Meanwhile, there’s talk that Tim Cook could move into the role of Chairman of the Board — which would actually give him more long-term power, not less.
Still, according to Bloomberg, there’s no clear sign Apple is seriously prepping a successor. The board seems to have Cook’s back for now, and there's no indication that a big shake-up is coming anytime soon.
Even Apple Insiders Are Getting Nervous
Here’s the twist: even Apple execs know something needs to change. According to insiders, top leaders like Eddy Cue have warned that if Apple doesn’t step up its AI game fast, it’s going to lose relevance — just like BlackBerry and Nokia did when they ignored the smartphone revolution.
It’s a bold warning, and it sounds like people inside the company are more worried than they’re letting on publicly.
So, What’s Next for Apple?
Tim Cook’s time at the top has been historic — no doubt. But the world of tech doesn’t slow down for anyone. With AI taking over everything from smartphones to cloud computing, Apple needs to make a move — fast.
The big question is: can Tim Cook lead Apple through the AI revolution, or is it time to pass the torch to someone who’s ready to take risks and push boundaries again?
One thing’s for sure: Apple can’t afford to play it safe anymore.