Apple CEO Tim Cook to employees in Townhall: To not use … would leave us behind, and we can't do that
CEO
Tim Cook
delivered a rare company-wide rallying cry earlier this month, telling employees that artificial intelligence represents the company's next major opportunity and warning that failing to embrace AI tools would leave the tech giant behind competitors.
Speaking to staff at Apple's Cupertino headquarters for an hour-long all-hands meeting,
Cook
declared the AI revolution "as big or bigger" than the internet, smartphones, and cloud computing. "Apple must do this. Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab," Cook told employees, according to Bloomberg sources familiar with the meeting.
The CEO urged employees to rapidly integrate AI into their daily work and future product development. "All of us are using AI in a significant way already, and we must use it as a company as well," Cook emphasized. "To not do so would be to be left behind, and we can't do that."
Tim Cook tells employees Apple's been "rarely first" but it still wins
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
No annual fees for life
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
Cook acknowledged Apple's late entry into artificial intelligence, with Apple Intelligence debuting months behind competitors like ChatGPT and Google's AI tools. However, he drew parallels to Apple's historical pattern of arriving late but defining entire product categories.
"We've rarely been first," Cook told staff. "There was a PC before the Mac; there was a smartphone before the iPhone." But Apple created the "modern" versions of those categories, he emphasized, expressing similar confidence about AI's potential.
Senior VP Craig Federighi revealed Apple scrapped plans for a hybrid Siri system after realizing it wouldn't achieve company quality standards. The new approach involves rebuilding Siri entirely on large language models, with Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell now leading the effort. "There is no project people are taking more seriously," Federighi said.
12,000 new hires signal massive AI push, and Cook says he's never felt so excited
Cook revealed Apple hired 12,000 new workers in the past year, with 40% joining research and development to accelerate AI initiatives. The company is developing specialized cloud-computing chips code-named Baltra and establishing an AI server facility in Houston to support its growing artificial intelligence infrastructure, Bloomberg has previously reported.
The CEO also addressed mounting regulatory pressures and potential Trump administration tariffs that could create a $1.1 billion quarterly headwind. "We need to continue to push on the intention of the regulation," Cook said, criticizing rules that "destroy the user experience and user privacy and security." Despite these challenges, he expressed extraordinary optimism: "I have never felt so much excitement and so much energy before as right now."
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gold heads for weekly loss, spotlight on Trump-Putin talks
Gold prices held steady on Friday, but were headed for a weekly loss after hot inflation data trimmed rate-cut bets, while the market focus shifted to talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Spot gold was little changed at $3,336.66 per ounce by 1:40 p.m. EDT (1740 GMT), and was down 1.8% for the week. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee Pain After 50? Try This Before Reaching for Pills Read More Undo U.S. gold futures settled almost flat at $3,382.6. The U.S. dollar eased, making dollar-denominated commodities more affordable for holders of other currencies. Data on Thursday showed U.S. producer prices increased by the most in three years in July. Traders see a 89.1% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September, down from about 95% before the data was released. Non-yielding gold prices fell following the data release, with spot gold closing 0.6% lower. Live Events "Although gold prices stabilized on Friday, more pain could be around the corner depending on how the summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska plays out," said Lukman Otunuga, senior research analyst at FXTM. Trump headed to Alaska for what he called a "high-stakes" summit on Friday with Putin to discuss a ceasefire deal for Ukraine. Geopolitical uncertainty and low interest rates generally boost demand for gold. Analysts at ANZ said macroeconomic and geopolitical risks would intensify in the second half of this year, enhancing gold's haven appeal. "Gold's bullish outlook remains intact, supported by the prospect of rising tariffs, a slowing global economy, easing of U.S. monetary policy and persistent weakness in the U.S. dollar," ANZ said. U.S. retail sales increased solidly in July, though a softening labor market and higher goods prices could curb growth in consumer spending in the third quarter. Spot silver fell 0.1% to $37.96 per ounce and was down 1% for the week. Platinum lost 1.5% to $1,336.80, and palladium fell 2.6% to $1,116.52.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Fortnite developer claims win against Apple and Google
An Australian court has found Apple and Google misused their market power in a dispute with the maker of wildly popular video game Fortnite . Both Apple and Google kicked Fortnite off their respective app platforms in 2020, after the game designed an in-app payments system that cut the tech giants out of the loop. Developer Epic Games retaliated by launching legal action against the tech giants in a string of courtrooms around the world. Australia's Federal Court this week found the tech firms' app-store dominance reduced competition, likely forcing game developers to pay higher commission fees. "This is a WIN for developers and consumers in Australia!" Epic Games said in a statement Tuesday. Justice Jonathan Beach however rejected Epic Games' claims that Apple and Google engaged in unconscionable conduct. A Google spokesperson said the company disagreed with some of the court's findings and would "review the full decision when we receive it and assess our next steps". Australian lawyers have lodged a class action suit seeking compensation from Apple and Google on behalf of game users and developers. "The judgement is a turning point," said Kimi Nishimura from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. "It sends a clear message that even the most powerful corporations must play by the rules and respect the rights of consumers and developers alike." Fortnite is one of the most popular video games in the world, laying claim to hundreds of millions of registered players.
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Strong monsoon, rising wages, and govt spending fuel rural economy recovery: Report
India's rural economy is showing early signs of a broad-based recovery, bolstered by a strong start to the monsoon season, a rebound in rural wages as inflation eases, and a renewed push in government spending, according to a report by the Ambit asset management firm . Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency The report added that these positive developments are expected to lift rural demand, improve agricultural productivity, and provide momentum to overall economic growth in the coming quarters. "As we head into FY26, green shoots are emerging. A strong start to the monsoon season, a resurgence in rural wages (driven by easing inflation), and higher government spending are setting the stage for a broad-based rural recovery," the report added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo The report highlights that the monsoon has begun on a promising note in FY26, with June rainfall at 105 per cent of the long-period average (LPA). Unlike previous years that were marred by erratic patterns, this year has seen more uniform and timely distribution, critical for sowing across pulses, oilseeds, and coarse cereals. Kharif sowing is already 8 per cent ahead YoY as of July-end. After years of stagnation, rural wages (both agri and non-agri) are seeing signs of revival. Real wage growth turned positive in mid-FY25, aided by falling inflation and increased government Live Events infrastructure push (roads, housing, Jal Jeevan Mission). The report added that MGNREGA demand is also moderating, indicating improved job availability. This pickup in wage growth is boosting rural liquidity and helping rebuild household savings, enabling higher spending on FMCG, durables, and low-end 2Ws. The last three years have been particularly challenging for rural India, marked by wage stagnation, weak demand across sectors such as FMCG, retail, and two-wheelers, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reverse migration disrupted rural employment, and agricultural distress intensified as input costs (fertilisers, diesel, pesticides) surged. The pandemic severely strained rural India. Rising inflation, stagnant wages, and muted demand significantly impacted household savings and consumption. Between 2020 and 2023, rural inflation climbed to 7.5 per cent, led by agricultural distress from erratic monsoons, unseasonal weather events, and rising input costs. Farm incomes were squeezed as market prices for many crops remained subdued, while the cost of essentials like diesel and fertilisers soared. The FMCG sector, a key barometer of rural demand, experienced a marked slowdown in earnings between Financial Year (FY) 2020 and FY24. The agri-inputs sector -- comprising fertilisers, crop protection chemicals, and seeds -- has been under earnings pressure over the last few years, mirroring the broader stress in rural India. The report added that between FY20 and FY24, earnings growth for several players slowed considerably, as they were weighed down by weak farm incomes, erratic monsoons, input cost inflation, and inventory destocking. Rural housing, a key enabler of consumption, employment, and building material demand, witnessed a visible slowdown during FY20-FY24.
