Overview
- In the past week, Apple’s AI head and interface design chief resigned, and the company said its general counsel and head of government affairs will also depart.
- People familiar with the matter say Johny Srouji told Tim Cook he is seriously considering leaving and would join another company if he departs.
- Cook has been working to keep Srouji with rich pay packages and potential expanded responsibilities, including internal discussion of a possible chief technology officer role.
- Apple is losing AI engineers to competitors such as Meta, OpenAI, and startups, raising risks for its efforts to close the gap in artificial intelligence.
- Succession planning has been underway for years as Cook turned 65 last month, with hardware chief John Ternus viewed internally as a leading CEO candidate, while associates deny rumors of a health problem despite reports of a hand tremor.