Tim Cook squashes retirement rumors, says he 'can't imagine life without Apple'

In this articleApple CEO Tim Cook used a "Good Morning America" appearance on Monday to shut down growing speculation about his future at the company, telling viewers that retirement talk is nothing more than a rumor.Asked about reports that he was preparing to step aside, Cook told ABC, "No, I didn't say that. I haven't said that. I love what I do deeply. Twenty-eight years ago, I walked into Apple, and I've loved every day of it since."He added that he "can't imagine life without Apple."The comments come after a turbulent stretch for Apple's C-suite. In December, the company lost AI chief John Giannandrea, its top lawyer, and a key design executive in a single week — while chip guru Johny Srouji reportedly signaled he might leave, too. The departures raised pointed questions about whether Cook's operational leadership style is the right fit for the artificial intelligence era.Cook's reassurance comes at a pivotal moment, as Apple turns 50 on April 1.The company is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone and AI glasses this year, and still needs to prove it can deliver the revamped Siri experience it failed to ship in 2025.LightShed Partners analyst Walter Piecyk was among the most vocal critics, warning in December that Apple risks ceding its AI future to Google. "You're basically surrendering AI to Google, just like you surrendered search to Google," Piecyk told CNBC in December, arguing that the dependence could ultimately help Android gain share from the iPhone, since that's where more of the development and integration would happen.Apple failed to deliver its promised overhaul of Siri last year and has since struck a deal with Google to use Gemini to power AI features on the iPhone — the very arrangement critics say could deepen Apple's reliance on a direct competitor.Piecyk called 2026 the ideal moment for Cook to hand off the baton, with Apple shares near all-time highs and a favorable upgrade cycle taking shape as consumers hang on to older phones and carriers push fresh subsidies. In Piecyk's view, it would allow Cook to leave on a high note and pass the AI transition to a successor he has already helped prepare.But Cook projected no urgency around any transition on Tuesday. Cook called AI technology "profound," and defended Apple's privacy-first approach. On tariffs — after Apple paid $3.3 billion under President Trump's trade policies — Cook was noncommittal about pursuing legal action, saying only that the company is "monitoring the situation" and that they'd "decide accordingly."WATCH: Timing is good for Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, says Lightshed Partners' Walter PiecykGot a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inboxGet this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.© 2026 Versant Media, LLC.

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