What the heck is going on at Apple?

Summary

Apple for decades has been known for a consistent string of design-forward, tech-defining consumer products that have shaped how people use technology. Now the company known for its steadiness is going through a shakeup at the top, as both Apple and the tech industry at large are at a crossroads. Apple announced the departures of three executive team members in less than a week. Meta poached a key Apple design leader. And speculation is mounting that Tim Cook may be preparing to step aside as CEO. The changes come as critics say Apple, once a tech leader, is behind in the next big wave: artificial intelligence. For one of the world’s most valuable tech companies, a change in leadership could mean a change in how it conceives, designs and creates products used around the world every single day. “The only thing we can read into this is that we’re headed to a time of increased volatility for Apple,” said Robert Siegel, a longtime venture capitalist and lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Apple stock (AAPL) is up roughly 12% this year, a much smaller jump than the 30% increase it saw in 2024. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Who’s leaving and why Planned departures for the following Apple executives were announced just this week: Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, is set to retire next year. General counsel Kate Adams, also set to retire next year. Alan Dye, vice president of human interface design, who is joining Meta as its chief design officer. John Giannandrea, senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy, who will also retire next year. Apple is bringing in Meta chief legal officer Jennifer Newstead to lead government affairs after Adams retires and serve as its new general counsel. The environment and social initiatives teams will now report to Sabih Khan, Apple’s chief operating officer. Amar Subramanya, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of AI, will be Appl...