Cook Defends Apple's Late Entry into AI with 'Not First, but Best' Philosophy

Tim Cook defends Apple coming late to AI with four words

• TLDR: Tim Cook argues that Apple has taken its time with AI for the same reason it always does — it wants to be not first, but best. The CEO believes this approach will lead to success.
• While the iPhone 16 launch saw Apple finally unveil an AI coprocessor, many have accused the company of being very late to the party. A new piece suggested that the feeling is shared by many inside the company.
• Cook elaborated at length over the summer: 'Sometimes you can be first and best, but any time you have to choose between the two, there’s only one answer.'
• He famously reads customer emails; now he uses AI to summarize them. He says it's changed his life: 'Profoundly different,' as he puts it.