New Delhi: Tim Cook, the long-time CEO of Apple, is facing increasing pressure over how the company is handling Artificial Intelligence (AI). A recent report from tech research firm LightShed Partners has caused a stir by openly questioning whether Cook is still the right leader for Apple.
They feel Apple needs someone who is more product-focused, not someone who mainly manages operations and supply chains. And in today’s fast-moving AI world, that’s becoming a real issue.
Why people are talking about Cook’s leadership
LightShed’s analysts, Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone, are not just making noise, they’re sounding a serious alarm, according to them, Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just a buzzword anymore. It’s reshaping how the tech world works, and if Apple continues to fall behind, it could lose the innovative edge it once had.
Think about it, while Apple’s stock has dropped by 16% in 2025, Meta has gone up by 25% and Microsoft by 19%. These companies are racing ahead in the AI game, while Apple seems to be stuck in slow motion.
Let’s be clear, under Tim Cook, Apple’s stock has grown by more than 1,400% since 2011. That’s way more than the S&P 500’s 430% during the same period. But the question now is not about the past. It’s about the future.
Critics say Apple’s “design-first” culture is no longer as powerful. People are missing the magic that Apple once brought with every launch.
And with Siri falling far behind Google Assistant and ChatGPT, even Apple’s own team is reportedly worried. Some have compared Apple’s current position to BlackBerry or Nokia, both of which were once leaders but failed to keep up with change.
Things are also shifting inside Apple’s top team. Long-time Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams is stepping down, and Sabih Khan is taking over. Earlier, Williams was seen as a possible next CEO. Now, John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of Hardware Engineering, is a leading name.
But there’s no sign that Cook is going anywhere. In fact, many reports, including Bloomberg’s tech expert Mark Gurman, suggest the Apple board still fully supports him.
Apple’s voice assistant Siri hasn’t really improved much, even though the company keeps promising updates. And while companies like Microsoft and Google are launching big AI-powered features, Apple seems to be stuck in the past.
When top analysts say Apple needs a tech visionary, not just a logistics expert, they are pointing at something important, the company needs someone who can imagine the future, not just manage the present.
