Unchang developments in AI: Research company wants Tim Cooks replacement

Apple’s boss Tim Cook still gets a lot of praise for his corporate management, but there has been more criticism from outside recently. After the much-read Bloomberg Apple journalist Mark Gurman had attributed responsibility for the company’s current problems in areas such as regulation, AI use and product innovations, a well-known research company from New York has now followed up. And it became clear: Apple should consider replacing Cook as a CEO, so Lightshed Partnerswhich specializes in the areas of technology, media and telecommunications, in a report to its customers (Paywall).

Dramatic warning

It is “time for a new boss at Apple”, the analysts Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone write. The difficulties that Apple has in the implementation of its AI strategy are mentioned as an example. These represented “significant risks for the company”. “Apple now needs a CEO concentrated on products, none that focuses on logistics.”

This means that Cook worked as a Chief Operating Officer before taking office in 2011 and had set up Apple’s complete supply chain. This also included the “Just in Time” production in Chinese finishing, which ensured that the group no longer has to hold (almost) no inventory and thus became significantly more efficient. At the same time, however, production in the USA was almost completely discontinued.

Lightshed also criticizes the development of the Apple share exchange course. This is in 2025 with 16 percent in the red, while other tech giants such as Meta (plus 25 percent) or Microsoft (plus 19 percent) significantly attracted. If Apple cannot participate in AI, this changes the long -term direction of the company “fundamental” according to Lightshed. It could even be that it loses “the possibility of growth at all”, according to the very dramatic words. “AI will change industries throughout the global economy – and Apple runs the risk of becoming one of its victims.”

Apple doesn’t want to build a chatbot

The fact is: At the moment Apple is focusing on equipping its operating systems with AI functions. Functions such as the writing tools or the two image generators (genemoji and image Playground) are just as few revolutionary as the direct integration of chatt if the user wishes. The output of the Apple’s own models lags behind what competitors such as Openai, Anthropic or Google deliver.

At the same time, however, the group does not make any institutions to change this: Software chief Craig Federighi recently refused to develop their own chat bot in an interview. In addition, the development with the voice assistant Siri, who will celebrate her 15th birthday in the coming year, also stops. New AI functions are not to come until 2026, but these will also not be able to keep up with modern processes such as Chatgpt, Gemini and Co.’s language modes, market observers believe.

Lightshed wrote his analysis in response to the announced departure of Coo Jeff Williams, who has long been considered a possible cooking successor, but just like Cook over 60. Cook was “the right CEO at the time of its appointment”, Galone and Piecyk continue to write. He did an “unquestionably great job”. But now “time for more disruptive changes (at Apple), nothing less”.