After 15 years as CEO, Tim Cook is stepping down, leaving Apple as a $4 trillion powerhouse built on operational excellence, global supply chains, and a thriving services ecosystem. Succeeding him is John Ternus, a longtime hardware engineering leader, stepping in at a pivotal moment as the tech industry shifts toward artificial intelligence. While Cook’s legacy is defined by stability and scale, critics argue innovation slowed under his tenure. Ternus now faces the challenge of blending Apple’s hardware-first philosophy with the demands of an AI-driven future, determining whether the company can adapt to a world where software intelligence increasingly defines technological leadership.