Cook hands Apple to Ternus amid AI lag

The leadership transition from Tim Cook to John Ternus comes at a moment when Apple is described as both larger and more profitable, yet facing a competitive challenge in artificial intelligence. The terse Reuters report gives no specific figures or dates, so the exact scale of the financial strength or the precise gap in AI capability is not detailed. Ternus steps in with the task of maintaining the company's market position while addressing its perceived lag in a technology sector that has become central to product strategy. The mention that Apple is "bigger and richer" suggests that resources are available, but the "catching up" language implies that rivals have moved ahead. Investors and customers will watch whether Ternus can translate Apple's scale into a stronger AI offering, though the article offers no guidance on timeline or strategy.