Apple's Ternus era begins as Nvidia expands its grip across the AI stack
Tim Cook stepped down as Apple CEO this week, handing the reins to former hardware chief John Ternus, while Nvidia keeps expanding its reach across the entire AI industry through new deals and investments.
Apple saw a leadership change this week as Tim Cook stepped down as CEO, passing the role to former hardware chief John Ternus. In his first memo to staff, Ternus promised a major product launch just a week away, coinciding with Apple's expected next iPhone event — putting a big challenge on his desk right from the start. Cook isn't leaving entirely, however; he will remain as Executive Chairman, focusing on relationships with policymakers, an area that has recently required careful handling even over something as minor as a map label.
On the latest episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec and Sean O'Kane discuss what Ternus is stepping into and suggest he may be better positioned to drive progress in software than in hardware during this AI-driven period.
Nvidia's expanding reach
The episode also examines how Nvidia's recent moves — including its acquisition of Hugging Face, its investment in MediaTek, and several new computing deals — increasingly resemble the actions of a company aiming to control the entire AI stack rather than just supply chips.
Other news from the week
The hosts also cover a busy week for robotaxis: Tesla held its Cybercab event, Waymo expanded into new cities, and Zoox began offering its first paid rides, intensifying competition among the companies. Additionally, they note that Andreessen Horowitz launched a new $1.1 billion fund called "Machine Age," signaling growing interest in early-stage AI hardware startups. The episode also touches on GoPro's $285 million acquisition, which the hosts describe as marking the end of an era for one of Silicon Valley's original consumer tech brands.
