Tim Cook squashes retirement rumors, says he 'can't imagine life without Apple'

Apple CEO Tim Cook used a "Good Morning America" appearance on Monday to shut down growing speculation about his future at the company, telling viewers that retirement talk is nothing more than a rumor.

Asked about reports that he was preparing to step aside, Cook told ABC, "No, I didn't say that.

I haven't said that.

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 comments come after a turbulent stretch for Apple's C-suite.

In December, the company lost AI chief John Giannandrea, its top lawyer, and a key design executive in a single week — while chip guru Johny Srouji reportedly signaled he might leave, too.

The departures raised pointed questions about whether Cook's operational leadership style is the right fit for the artificial intelligence era.

Cook's reassurance comes at a pivotal moment, as Apple turns 50 on April 1.

The company is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone and AI glasses this year, and still needs to prove it can deliver the revamped Siri experience it failed to ship in 2025.

LightShed Partners analyst Walter Piecyk was among the most vocal critics, warning in December that Apple risks ceding its AI future to Google.

Apple failed to deliver its promised overhaul of Siri last year and has since struck a deal with Google to use Gemini to power AI features on the iPhone — the very arrangement critics say could deepen Apple's reliance on a direct competitor.

But Cook projected no urgency around any transition on Tuesday.

Cook called AI technology "profound," and defended Apple's privacy-first approach.

On tariffs — after Apple paid $3.3 billion under President Trump's trade policies — Cook was noncommittal about pursuing legal action, saying only that the company is "monitoring the situation" and that they'd "decide accordingly."
WATCH: Timing is good for Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, says Lightshed Partners' Walter Piecyk