Is Tim Cook retiring? The truth behind growing rumours about the Apple CEO

Apple CEO Tim Cook has moved to quash speculation about his future, insisting he has no plans to step down and saying retirement talk is “nothing more than a rumour”.

Appearing on Good Morning America on Monday, Cook rejected reports that he was preparing to leave the company. “No, I didn’t say that. I haven’t said that,” he told viewers. “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 remarks come after a turbulent period for Apple’s senior leadership. In December, the company lost its AI chief, its top lawyer and a key design executive within the same week. Meanwhile, chip executive Johny Srouji has reportedly indicated he may also consider departing. The changes have prompted fresh questions about whether Cook’s operational leadership style is suited to the fast-moving artificial intelligence era.

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Cook’s comments arrive at a pivotal moment for the company, which will mark its 50th anniversary on 1 April. Apple is widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone and AI-powered glasses later this year, while continuing efforts to deliver a significantly upgraded version of Siri — a revamp that failed to materialise in 2025.

Some analysts have argued that Apple risks falling behind in AI. LightShed Partners analyst Walter Piecyk warned in December that the company could be ceding ground to Google, suggesting that increased reliance on external AI partnerships may ultimately benefit Android rivals. Apple has since struck a deal to integrate Google’s Gemini technology into certain iPhone AI features — a move critics say could deepen its dependence on a key competitor.

Piecyk has suggested 2026 could be an appropriate time for a leadership transition, pointing to Apple’s strong share price and an improving smartphone upgrade cycle. In his view, such a move would allow Cook to depart on a high note and pass the AI strategy to a successor he has already helped prepare.

Despite the external pressure, Cook signalled no immediate plans to step aside. He described AI as “profound” technology and reaffirmed Apple’s privacy-focused approach.

On trade policy, Cook declined to commit to any legal action over tariffs imposed under President Trump, under which Apple has reportedly paid $3.3 billion. He said the company is “monitoring the situation” and would “decide accordingly”.

For now, Cook appears intent on steering Apple through its next major phase of product innovation — and dismissing speculation that his tenure is nearing its end.