Speaking at the Zeta Live conference, former Apple CEO John Sculley asserted that Apple finally faces real competition — and it’s not from Samsung or Google, but OpenAI. He argued that Apple has historically lagged in the artificial intelligence race, citing delays in its AI initiatives as evidence.
Sculley emphasized that it’s time for Apple to transition from the “apps era” to what he calls the “agentic era,” where intelligent AI agents perform tasks autonomously rather than relying on multiple conventional apps. According to him, the leader who succeeds Tim Cook must guide Apple through this fundamental shift.
He also pointed out that Apple’s traditional business model focused on selling tools (i.e., apps), but the future lies in subscription-based AI services — where value is delivered continuously as users engage with intelligent agents.
Sculley noted that OpenAI’s recent acquisition of Jony Ive’s design startup could merge powerful AI with Apple’s legacy in product design, giving the new rival an edge in user-centric device development.