On September 29, 2026, President Donald Trump convened a group of influential tech leaders at the White House to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Notably absent from the gathering was Apple, as neither Tim Cook, the former CEO, nor John Ternus, his successor, attended the event. This absence sparked speculation across social media, particularly regarding Apple's perceived lag in AI advancements. Investment firm Altimeter Capital's CEO, Brad Gerstner, weighed in on the situation during an interview with CNBC, labeling the concern over Apple’s absence as insignificant. He expressed confidence that Apple is well-informed about AI developments and likely shares common views with other participants. Gerstner also highlighted Cook’s recent presence at a state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing Apple's ongoing engagement with high-level policymakers.
Tim Cook transitioned out of his role as Apple’s CEO in September, handing leadership to Ternus but remaining involved in policy discussions as executive chairman. Over recent years, Cook has made significant efforts to cultivate a positive rapport with Trump, making multiple public appearances during the president’s second term, including at high-profile events like Trump’s inauguration and various international state dinners. Apple, under Cook’s guidance, has consistently focused on its manufacturing and trade interests, striving to maintain a favorable position regarding tariffs that could affect its product pricing. Although there are reports of Apple considering the use of Chinese-produced memory chips due to rising global prices, this strategy faces regulatory hurdles, with Commerce Secretary Lutnick indicating a lack of support from the Trump administration.
Gerstner noted during his interview that the companies present at the White House meal were those making significant strides in AI model development—characteristics that do not align with Apple's current focus. Apple’s AI models are generally smaller and tailored for efficiency, primarily for use in its own products like iPhones and Macs, as opposed to the large-scale AI models developed by rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic. While Apple collaborates with Google on AI initiatives, its overall investments in this area are modest compared to those of tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon. Although some investors express concerns about Apple's competitiveness in AI, many view the company as a stable alternative amidst the heavy capital expenditures seen in the broader tech landscape. Recently, Apple introduced a new AI-enhanced version of Siri, which received largely favorable feedback.
As of 2026, Apple’s stock has risen 22.5%, outperforming the Nasdaq and nearly all other large tech companies—Nvidia being a notable exception. Despite Apple’s active promotion of its AI capabilities, the company has been largely silent on pressing issues related to AI safety and alignment, which dominated discussions during Trump’s luncheon. Unlike executives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and others, who have been vocal in addressing these topics, Apple has not issued extensive public statements. Following the meeting, tech leaders, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Greg Brockman, signed an agreement committing to industry-wide safety protocols. Historically, Cook has indicated that Apple prefers to engage publicly on policy matters that directly influence the company, suggesting a more reserved strategy on issues where they do not have a distinct perspective. In a 2021 interview, he articulated that if a topic does not intersect with Apple's interests, the company tends to remain silent in the public debate.
