In a wide-ranging interview released September 20, 2026, John Ternus—recently named CEO of Apple—opened up about the surprise offer to lead the company, his excitement around generative AI, parental controls in iOS 27, and some of Apple’s newest hardware moves. The sit-down with Clique TV’s Mouloud Achour covers both big-picture vision and small, personal details about life inside Apple’s executive suite.
From Shock to Leadership
Ternus described getting asked to be CEO as a moment he never anticipated. He shared that when Tim Cook approached him about the role, the idea seemed almost unbelievable. The focus, he said, has always been on creating great products and doing excellent work—not seeking leadership titles. The transition into the CEO role, he admits, is both humbling and exhilarating.
Asked about the influence of his predecessors—Steve Jobs and Tim Cook—Ternus said the central lesson he’s absorbed from both is the importance of keeping one eye on what’s next. He emphasized that each day at Apple builds on what came before, but attention must always shift toward the future and what lies ahead.
AI, Vision Pro, and Family Tech
On artificial intelligence, Ternus made it clear that Apple sees the generative AI moment as transformative. He called this an especially thrilling period in his career, pointing out that many ideas once seen as science fiction are now within reach. AI will be woven into “new experiences, new products, new capabilities,” he said, expressing genuine excitement about what’s coming.
Turning to Vision Pro, Ternus affirmed Apple’s belief in the product. Though what he said wasn’t detailed in terms of specs or upcoming features, he stood firm in defending its purpose and value—a sign that the augmented reality frontier remains a priority. This comes alongside talk of Apple’s latest devices, including the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro, and whether consumers should feel pressure to upgrade every year.
When it comes to family dynamics and technology, Ternus’ message was balanced. He supports iOS 27’s enhanced parental control tools and described discussions at home about when kids should be using devices—and for what. It’s not that his children have no screen time; rather, there are rules about when it’s appropriate and when it’s not. He framed this as thoughtful management rather than a tech-free household.
Other topics touched on in the interview: Apple’s growing involvement in health, features on the newest phones, and thoughts on upgrade cycles for existing users. While Ternus didn’t lay out roadmaps or timelines, his tone was clearly forward-looking.
This conversation arrives during the early stretch of Ternus’s time as CEO—his first major public interview since taking the helm. It reflects both continuity and change, as Apple holds onto core values while entering new territories, especially with AI and immersive computing.
What this means: Apple is signaling that under Ternus, the company sees its next chapter in terms of imaginative product-building. The AI wave isn’t just a feature—it’s central to strategy. Vision Pro, iPhones, health tech, and family tools are all part of a broader canvas in which Apple wants to shape not just the devices, but behaviors and expectations. Watch for how AI integrations evolve in hardware, how user experience shifts under his leadership, and whether Apple leans even more into health and AR/VR.
