Apple CEO Tim Cook reveals what he thinks the company's contribution to the world is, discusses working with Trump, plus what he plans to do if Apple ever gets tariff refunds.
Following his open letter celebrating Apple's 50th anniversary, Tim Cook has now talked to ABC's Michael Strahan on Good Morning America about whether he'll retire soon, and just how he thinks Apple works in the world. Asked about Apple's biggest contribution to society is so far, Cook could not just pick one.
"Oh, my God," he started. "You know, you can focus on the product moments, reinventing music, reinventing the smartphone, bringing the creative arts to the table, creative graphics, saving people's lives with the [Apple Watch]..."
But after letting Cook praise Apple, and announce a new partnership with a music school, the questions got more serious. Cook was asked about the negative impacts on the world caused directly or indirectly by the iPhone.
"Well, I don't want people using them too much, I don't want people looking at the smartphone more than they're looking in someone's eyes, as if they're just scrolling endlessly," said Cook. "This is not the way you want to spend your day. Go out and spend it in nature."
Cook had a finely balanced response about AI, too, where he argued that it's how the technology is used that matters.
"Technology doesn't want to be good and it doesn't want to be bad," he said. "It's in the hands of the user and the inventor."
Apple in the USA
In a wide-ranging but very bitty interview, Cook was also pressed about Apple's manufacturing in the US, and on his personal relationship with Trump. Just as he did with his answer about AI, though, Cook walked a fine line.
"What I do is I interact on policy, not politics, I'm not a political person, on either side, I'm not political," he said. "And so I'm kind of straight down the middle, and I focus on policy, and so I'm very pleased that the president and the administration is accessible to talk about policy."
For a man who insists he's not political, though, Cook handled a question about tariffs in a very politically astute way. He was asked directly whether Apple was going to sue to get back the $3.3 billion it has paid in tariffs that have since been ruled illegal.
"Well, we're monitoring the situation to see what the courts will rule there," he said, "We'll decide accordingly."
Tim Cook also visited with students making music on iPads — image credit: ABC
Cook then got to reiterate Apple's claim of investing $600 billion in the US over the next four years, but was willing to be more specific.
"If you looked at your iPhone today, the front cover and the back cover, all of that glass will be coming out of Kentucky by the end of the year," he said, adding nothing new contextually to that Corning drum he keeps beating.
That led to a question of whether Cook would still be at Apple at the end of the year, given that he's reportedly said it wanted to step back a little bit.
"No, I didn't say that," Cook jumped in to say. "I never said that, that's a rumor going around."
Unsurprisingly, Cook didn't say anything at all about a leaving date or any succession plans. Instead, he said that "I can't imagine life without Apple."
Apple's 50th anniversary celebrations have so far included an Alicia Keys concert in New York, and are expected to continue with a performance in China.
