Apple CEO Tim Cook gestures as he departs after a reception with business leaders and the US president on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, January 21, 2026.
Fabrice Coffrini | AFP | Getty Images
apple CEO Tim Cook appeared on “Good Morning America” on Monday to quell mounting speculation about his future at the company, telling viewers that talk of his retirement is just a rumor.
Asked about reports that he was preparing to step down, Cook told ABC: “No, I never said that. I absolutely love what I do. 28 years ago, I joined Apple and I’ve loved every day since.”
He added, “I can’t imagine life without Apple.”
The comments come after a tumultuous development for Apple executives.
In December, the company lost its head of AI, John Gianandrea, a top lawyer, and a key design executive within a week. Meanwhile, chip guru Johnny Srouzi has also reportedly hinted at the possibility of resigning.
The resignation raised sharp questions about whether Cook’s operational leadership style is appropriate for the age of artificial intelligence.
Cook’s reassurance comes at a pivotal moment as Apple turns 50 on April 1st.
The company plans to launch its first foldable iPhone and AI glasses this year, but it needs to prove it can deliver a revamped Siri experience that didn’t ship until 2025.
LightShed Partners analyst Walter Piecyk has been the most vocal critic, warning in December that Apple was at risk of ceding its AI future to Google.
“Just like we surrendered search to Google, we’re basically surrendering AI to Google,” Piecyk told CNBC in December, arguing that this dependency could ultimately help Android gain market share from the iPhone, since more development and integration will take place on Android.
The company later struck a deal with Apple after it failed to deliver on the overhaul of Siri it had promised last year. google The deal itself would use Gemini to power the iPhone’s AI capabilities, but critics say it could make Apple even more dependent on its direct competitors.
Piecyk said 2026 is the ideal time for Cook to pass the baton, with Apple stock near record highs and a favorable upgrade cycle forming as consumers cling to older phones and carriers push for new subsidies. In Piecyk’s view, this will allow Cook to step down gracefully and hand over the transition to AI to his successor, who he has already helped prepare.
But Cook predicted there was no urgency regarding Tuesday’s transition.
Cook called the AI technology “deep” and defended Apple’s privacy-first approach.
As for tariffs, Apple is paying $3.3 billion under President Trump’s trade policy, but Cook was not keen on pursuing legal action, saying only that the company was “monitoring the situation” and “will make decisions accordingly.”
WATCH: Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO is a good time, says Lightshed Partners’ Walter Pieczyk
