Apple CEO John Ternus Outlines New AI Device Roadmap

Apple has completed its largest executive transition in decades, culminating in John Ternus taking over as chief executive from Tim Cook at the end of 2026. During his first major hardware event, Ternus introduced the iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable smartphone, while framing Apple's ecosystem as an "intelligent personal hub." This concept echoes the digital hub strategy of 1998 but pivots toward centering user experience on Apple Intelligence, the AI suite first introduced at WWDC in 2024.

While the September 2026 keynote did not debut new AI features, Apple is preparing a wave of AI-native devices over the next 18 months. The first will be a smart home hub featuring a square screen and a dedicated Siri AI operating system. This device will support video conferencing, intercom functions, and proactive intelligence using AI-based Face ID to recognize users. Apple is also developing a home security system, a robotic-arm desk hub, smart glasses slated for 2027, and AirPods equipped with cameras.

This product roadmap follows a structured multi-year succession plan orchestrated by Cook, whose compensation reached 47 million dollars annually. The leadership overhaul began with CFO Luca Maestri retiring at the end of 2024 to be replaced by Kevan Parekh. In 2025, COO Jeff Williams stepped down for Sabih Khan, followed by general counsel Kate Adams being succeeded by Meta veteran Jennifer Newstead in 2026. Longtime executive Phil Schiller has also relinquished his oversight of the App Store and Apple Events to focus on special projects.

For developers and AI practitioners, this transition signals a shift in how Apple intends to monetize and integrate intelligence. With Ternus and services head Eddy Cue seeking new revenue streams, developers can expect a revamped App Store designed to feed directly into Siri AI. While Apple's current strategy relies heavily on on-device processing to differentiate itself from cloud-heavy competitors, the upcoming hardware wave offers developers entirely new form factors—ranging from smart home screens to spatial wearables—to deploy contextual, agentic AI experiences.