Apple Turns 50 as Cook Maps Succession and Faces AI Test

Overview

• Apple marked its 50th anniversary on Wednesday, closing a run that lifted services revenue from about $20 billion to $100 billion under Tim Cook.
• Tim Cook, the CEO since 2011, is working on succession planning, with reports often naming hardware leader John Ternus as a front‑runner.
• Analysts say Cook is unlikely to depart until Apple’s AI plan is in place, after a slow Siri update and reliance on Google raised concern about momentum.
• The company faces antitrust heat over App Store fees and rules, and it is moving more assembly to India and Vietnam to ease China risk.
• Chris Espinosa, Apple’s longest‑tenured employee, still works on Apple TV software and his 2,000 shares from the 1980 IPO would be worth about $114 million today.