Former Apple CEO Sculley Warns AI Could Eclipse Apple’s Dominance
NEW YORK – Former Apple CEO John Sculley believes Apple is lagging in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape and risks being overtaken by competitors like OpenAI.Speaking Thursday, Sculley asserted that the next leader of the tech giant must prioritize a shift away from an app-centric model toward “agentic AI” to maintain Apple’s competitive edge.
Sculley, who led Apple from 1983 to 1993, contends that OpenAI’s subscription-based model, exemplified by chatgpt, is proving more effective than the customary app sales approach. “When we had apps at the center of everything, it was selling tools, selling products,” Sculley said. “When you think of subscription, it’s about people paying for something as long as they need it.” This shift in consumer behavior, he argues, favors OpenAI’s continuous-value proposition.
The threat to Apple is further amplified by OpenAI’s recent acquisition of Io, a startup founded by Jony Ive, Apple’s former design chief. The $6.5 billion deal brought Ive – the architect behind iconic Apple products like the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad – into Sam Altman’s company. Sculley believes Ive’s design expertise will be crucial in shaping OpenAI’s foray into AI-first hardware.
ive is currently focused on “creating OpenAI’s AI-first devices,” spurred by the Io acquisition. At OpenAI’s DevDay conference last week, Ive acknowledged the challenge of prioritizing product development, stating, “That momentum has led us to create 15 to 20 really compelling product ideas. The challenge is to focus…We’re designing a family of products.”
Sculley also stated, “AI has not been a particular strength” for Apple, underscoring the urgency for the company to adapt and innovate in this critical area.The former CEO’s comments come amid speculation about the future of current Apple CEO Tim Cook’s tenure and the strategic direction of the world’s most valuable company.
