• Source:JND
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Former Apple CEO John Sculley believes the tech giant is finally facing a worthy rival — and it’s not Google or Samsung. Speaking at the Zeta Live conference in New York City, Sculley described OpenAI as “the first real competitor Apple has had in decades,” noting that Apple has lagged behind in the fast-moving AI revolution.

According to Business Insider, Sculley said, “AI has not been a particular strength for them,” pointing to how Apple has fallen behind OpenAI, Google, Amazon, and Meta in artificial intelligence research and deployment. Even Apple’s long-awaited Siri redesign, first teased earlier this year, has reportedly faced repeated delays.

From Apps to Agents: Sculley’s Vision for Apple’s Future

Sculley, who served as Apple’s CEO from 1983 to 1993 and helped turn the Macintosh into a global brand, also weighed in on Tim Cook’s potential successor. He said Apple’s next leader must guide the company from the “apps era” into an “agentic era” — where AI agents handle complex tasks autonomously for users.

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He argued that such a shift could redefine how people interact with technology and reshape business models across the industry.

“Selling tools or products was the main goal when apps were popular. In contrast, subscriptions allow users to pay for services for as long as they require them,” Sculley said, highlighting the potential for steady, recurring revenue in an AI-driven economy.

Apple’s Former Talent Is Fueling AI Innovation

Sculley also noted how former Apple executives and designers are now shaping the future of AI. He referenced Jony Ive, Apple’s legendary design chief, whose hardware startup was acquired by OpenAI earlier this year for over $6 billion.

At OpenAI’s DevDay, Ive discussed developing new hardware designed to move beyond the limitations of traditional smartphones and tablets.

“Jony Ive designed and built the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad,” said Sculley. “If anyone can bring that same design dimension to OpenAI’s large language models, it’s him — working alongside Sam Altman.”

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The Bottom Line

Sculley’s comments underscore a broader reality — while Apple dominates in hardware and ecosystem design, it’s now playing catch-up in AI. With companies like OpenAI leading the charge in generative and agentic AI, Apple’s next big challenge might not be in making the next iPhone, but in building the intelligence that powers it.