Business | Schumpeter

Hey Siri! Help me get Apple out of an AI-shaped hole

Tim Cook’s prayer to the almighty

An iPhone pokes out from a hole, with the Apple logo floating above
Illustration: Brett Ryder

Tim Cook has an air of bashful reverence. In his 13 years at the helm of Apple he has created more value than just about any CEO in history, as the tech behemoth’s market capitalisation has climbed from less than $400bn to around $3trn. But he still acts as if he were there thanks to the grace of Steve Jobs, or the skill of his colleagues, or divine providence. It was in character, then, that when he took to the stage at the iPhone-maker’s annual developers’ gathering on June 10th, he first greeted the cheering throng by clasping his hands together, as if in prayer. He probably would not admit this, but there was plenty to pray for.

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This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Tim Cook’s prayer to the almighty”

From the June 15th 2024 edition

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