Mark Gurman Analyzes John Ternus’s Leadership and Apple’s AI Strategy Following iPhone Duo Launch

Bloomberg’s chief Apple correspondent Mark Gurman joined the Decoder podcast to discuss Apple’s recent annual hardware event, which marked a significant transition in the company’s leadership. The event featured John Ternus making his debut as CEO following Tim Cook’s departure, alongside the unveiling of the iPhone Duo, Apple’s inaugural foldable smartphone.

Gurman noted that while the event’s presentation style remained consistent with the Cook era, Ternus distinguished himself by articulating a clear viewpoint on artificial intelligence. Ternus introduced the concept of an “intelligent personal hub,” positioning AI at the center of Apple’s ecosystem. Gurman contrasted this decisive leadership with Cook’s more collaborative, question-based management style.

Despite the new narrative, Gurman observed that the keynote lacked significant new AI features, effectively rehashing Apple Intelligence capabilities introduced over the previous two years. He suggested Apple is using the iPhone as a temporary AI device while it develops dedicated hardware. Looking ahead, Gurman predicted a wave of AI-native products within the next year and a half, including a smart home hub with a square screen, a robotic-arm-mounted display, and camera-equipped AirPods.

Gurman also expressed high confidence that Apple’s augmented reality smart glasses would hit the market in 2027. “Within 365 days, you will be wearing them,” he asserted, noting that any delay would indicate serious internal issues for the company.