Q&A with Mark Gurman on the iPhone Duo, breaking Apple news, new AI-native devices, Tim Cook staying as executive chair, John Ternus, Johny Srouji, and more

Apple's narrative around AI is now tied to its existing iPhone hardware, with new AI-native devices expected later this year.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman discussed Apple's recent iPhone hardware event, the first led by new CEO John Ternus. The event marked the debut of the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable smartphone. Gurman noted that while the event structure felt similar to those under Tim Cook, Ternus presented a clearer viewpoint on AI, framing it around an "intelligent personal hub." This contrasts with Apple's prior, more fragmented AI narrative. Gurman observed that Apple is heavily reliant on its existing iPhone hardware to showcase AI capabilities due to a lack of dedicated AI-native devices. He anticipates Apple will shift its narrative once such devices are ready. The discussion also touched on Ternus's decision-making style, described as more decisive than Cook's collaborative approach. Gurman also revealed expectations for new AI-native devices, including a smart home hub, to launch within the next 18 months.

The recent iPhone event and John Ternus's leadership signal a shift towards more decisive AI strategy at Apple, moving from collaborative to opinion-driven decision-making. Despite the debut of the iPhone Duo, the company is leaning heavily on the iPhone to demonstrate AI capabilities, a narrative that is expected to evolve with the introduction of new AI-native devices.

Apple's strategy appears to be a carefully managed PR effort to present its current AI advancements, even if it means revisiting past product paradigms like the 'intelligent personal hub.' The anticipation of a new wave of AI-native devices, starting with a smart home hub, suggests a future pivot away from relying solely on the iPhone for AI demonstrations, reflecting a broader industry trend towards specialized AI hardware.