Apple’s new CEO, and why Elon Musk wants to buy Cursor for $60B
Apple's new CEO John Ternus faces a disrupted ecosystem as Musk bids big on AI code.
Apple is entering a new era as Tim Cook prepares to step down as CEO in September, passing the torch to hardware chief John Ternus. Ternus takes over one of tech's most durable businesses, but faces a transformed ecosystem: the App Store's 30% cut faces mounting legal and regulatory pressure, developer relationships are fraying, and vibe-coded apps are reshaping how software is built on Apple's platforms. The transition marks a significant shift from the landscape Cook shaped over his tenure.
In parallel, Elon Musk is making bold moves in AI, with SpaceX holding a $60B option on AI coding startup Cursor, backed by a $10B breakup fee. This deal, discussed on TechCrunch's Equity podcast, signals Musk's aggressive AI strategy following the xAI merger. The episode also covers Anthropic's Mythos model raising safety and marketing questions, Amazon's $5B Anthropic deal as a circular AI infrastructure play, and IPO plans from Revolut and Cerebras hinting at a potential market reopening.
- Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO in September; John Ternus to succeed
- App Store's 30% cut under pressure from regulators and vibe-coded apps
- Elon Musk's SpaceX has $60B option on Cursor with $10B breakup fee
Why It Matters
Apple's leadership change and Musk's AI bet reshape tech's power dynamics for startups and developers.