New Apple CEO John Ternus inherits its hardware empire — and its AI problem

Apple's new CEO, John Ternus, inherits a company that leads in smartphone sales but lags behind competitors in artificial intelligence. Ternus, 51, joins Apple with over two decades of experience, having risen through the ranks to become senior vice president of hardware engineering. His first task will be to balance the company's reliance on China while facing intense political pressure from the White House.

Tim Cook, who led Apple for 15 years, has left the company in "phenomenal order," according to an industry analyst. Ternus is expected to focus on hardware innovation during Apple's upcoming iPhone event on September 9, where a foldable handset is anticipated. While some analysts suggested that Craig Federighi, Apple's software chief, would be a better choice for handling AI, Ternus is credited with driving Apple's efforts to create more durable, reliable, and environmentally friendly products.

The challenge for Ternus will be mastering the complex geopolitical role that Cook excelled at, negotiating with both Beijing and the White House to protect Apple's supply chain, which is largely based in China.