John Ternus takes over as Apple enters era of AI, foldable phones

Apple announced on Tuesday that John Ternus will become the new chief executive, replacing long-standing leader Tim Cook. Ternus, 51, previously served as Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, overseeing the company's product lineup, including iPhones, which generate most of Apple's revenue. One major challenge Ternus faces is balancing Apple's reliance on China while navigating political pressure from the White House.

Cook's departure marks the end of his 15-year tenure, during which he built and maintained Apple's supply chain. Analyst Dan Ives believes Ternus' engineering background will be crucial for defining Apple's AI chapter, as the company prepares to unveil its first foldable smartphone at the September 9 iPhone event. Some analysts argue that Craig Federighi, Apple's software chief, would have been a more logical choice to lead AI development.

Ternus brings a strong engineering background to the role, earning his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been credited with making Apple's products more durable, reliable, and environmentally friendly. However, his transition to CEO will require him to adapt to a larger role, as he will be responsible for defining Apple's direction on a global scale.