Apple CEO declares iPhone the best AI device, emphasizing privacy
At the Surprise and Shine event on September 9, 2026, Apple’s newly appointed CEO John Ternus outlined the company’s AI roadmap, declaring the iPhone the best AI device and positioning it as an “intelligent personal hub.” He succeeded Tim Cook, who moved to the role of executive chairman, and used the launch to signal that Apple will not introduce separate AI‑focused hardware.
Key points
- Apple CEO John Ternus announced at the Surprise and Shine event that the iPhone will remain Apple’s primary AI platform.
- He emphasized on‑device processing and data privacy, contrasting Apple Intelligence with competitors that collect user data.
- The “intelligent personal hub” vision calls for a powerful processor, large display, high‑quality cameras, microphones, long battery life, and seamless ecosystem integration.
Ternus said the hub must understand a user’s personal context, run AI models on‑device with a powerful processor, and tap cloud models when needed. It should feature a large display, high‑quality cameras, microphones, long battery life, and seamless integration across Apple services. He highlighted that Apple Intelligence runs on‑device whenever possible to safeguard data, contrasting rivals that collect user information. The comments frame Apple’s privacy‑first strategy as its competitive edge in the AI era.
Apple CEO John Ternus says the best AI device is still the iPhone
TechCrunch AI · 9 September 2026
Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, used the opening of the company’s Surprise and Shine event Wednesday to make its AI strategy clear: The iPhone is already the best AI device out there, and Apple cares more about data privacy than its rivals.
The comments come as Ternus takes the reins at Apple from Tim Cook, who is now executive chairman, and offer a clear picture of how the company plans to compete in the AI era. Instead of building new hardware for AI, Apple wants to make the iPhone the central way consumers interact with the new technology.
During his introduction at the Cupertino event, Ternus described the ideal AI device as an “intelligent personal hub.” He said such a hub would have a broad understanding of a user’s personal context, always be with them, and have both a powerful processor capable of running AI models on-device and an internet connection to access models in the cloud.
The device would also have a large display, high-quality cameras, and microphones so it could see and hear the world around it, along with long battery life, Ternus continued.
Plus, “you’d want it to be super easy to use without a big learning curve. And finally, you’d want it to work seamlessly with your other devices, apps, and services, so it feels like one integrated experience,” he said.
“In other words, you would arrive at something remarkably familiar, because there’s no product in the world better designed to be your intelligent personal hub than iPhone,” Ternus said.
Ternus also emphasized how Apple cares more about data privacy, adding that “others see [users’ personal] data as something to collect and store.” It was one of the sharper statements Apple has made about how it intends to differentiate its AI platform from the competition.
“Honestly, trust only goes so far when your data is no longer yours to control; that’s why Apple Intelligence runs on device whenever it can,” Ternus concluded.
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