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Tim Cook

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Everything you need to know about Apple's CEO

Tim Cook was appointed CEO in 2011 when Steve Jobs stepped away from the company as his health worsened. Cook was handpicked by Jobs to be his replacement, having served as a close friend of Jobs during their entire career together.

A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in industrial engineering, Cook earned his Masters from Duke University’s School of business. Prior to joining Apple, Cook spent 12 years at IBM, then served as the Chief Operating Officer of Intelligent Electronics. He then had a short stint at Compaq.

Cook first joined Apple in 1998 after being recruited by Jobs. Cook remarked in a commencement address at Auburn University that, five minutes into his interview with Jobs, he knew he wanted to join Apple. “My intuition already knew that joining Apple was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for the creative genius,” he remarked.

At Apple, Cook started out as senior vice president of worldwide operating. He served as interim CEO in 2009 while Steve Jobs was on medical leave. In 2011, Cook again stepped in to lead day-to-day operations while Jobs was ill, before ultimately being named CEO permanently just before the death of Jobs.

Cook has been very outspoken on a variety of social issues, including the need to protect user data and privacy, as evident by his vocal refusal to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino gunmen. Cook has also voiced his displeasure with controversial legislation that enables LGBT discrimination in a handful of states in the United States. Likewise, Cook has frequently called on the United States Congress to pass LGBT protection legislation. He became the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company in 2014, as well. Cook has led Apple in the San Francisco Pride Parade in recent years.

View all Tim Cook-related articles below:

Warren Buffett says Apple made Berkshire more money than he ever did

Warren Buffett says Apple made Berkshire more money than he ever did | A mass of $100 bills

When Apple CEO Tim Cook praised Warren Buffett at the weekend, it followed the billionaire investor modestly stating that Apple had made more money for his Berkshire Hathaway investment fund than he ever did through his other investment picks.

Buffett also said that while Steve Jobs was vital to the formation and early days of the company, Cook was equally vital to its growth since then …

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Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton spotted at Apple Park with CEO Tim Cook

Social media has been buzzing this week since Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton was spotted at Apple Park with company CEO Tim Cook.

While we don’t know exactly why Hamilton was there on this occasion, there’s not much mystery around it either. That’s because Apple and Lewis Hamilton have two orders of business together.

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Tim Cook says China’s DeepSeek AI is ‘excellent’ during visit to country

Tim Cook says China's DeepSeek AI is 'excellent' during visit to country | DeepSeek seen on an iPhone (left), Tim Cook seen in China (right)

China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot doesn’t exactly have the best of reputations. It has exposed chat history and other sensitive data; the iOS app has been shown to have multiple security flaws; is under investigation in both the US and Europe; and ARM’s CEO believes it will end up being banned in the US.

But none of this has stopped Apple CEO Tim Cook describing it as “excellent” during a visit to Beijing for the China Development Forum …

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Tim Cook says Los Angeles wildfires are heartbreaking, Apple is donating

Tim Cook says Los Angeles wildfires are heartbreaking, Apple is donating | Photo shows firefighters tackling the blaze

Apple CEO Tim Cook has described the Los Angeles wildfires as “heartbreaking,” and said that the company will be making a donation to assist the recovery effort.

Multiple fires across parts of LA have so far led to at least five deaths, and forced more than 130,000 people to abandon their homes, and it’s feared there is more to come …

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Tim Cook told us how Apple will change the world, but it’s finally taking shape

Apple has a reputation for creating game-changing products. It’s done this in a variety of categories spanning its history of hardware, software, and services. But it’s natural to always seek out the next big thing. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook though, interestingly enough, has already told us what it is—and now it’s starting to take shape.

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Tim Cook denies OpenAI rumors; talks AI energy use; Apple Glasses; saving lives

Tim Cook Wired interview | Cook seen against abstract background

A wide-ranging interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook reveals him (kind of) denying OpenAI rumors; addressing the potential conflict between the power requirements of AI and Apple’s environmental goals; the journey toward Apple Glasses; and how Apple’s greatest legacy may be saving lives.

Cook kicks off by denying that Apple was late to AI, pointing out that the company first built a neural engine into its products back in 2017 …

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