Apple's freshly appointed chief executive John Ternus has characterized the global memory chip situation as a critical challenge for the industry. Speaking to TIME, Ternus emphasized that "all options should be on the table" regarding memory chip procurement, a statement that comes after reports surfaced of Apple evaluating memory components manufactured by a Chinese supplier. Ternus assumed his role as CEO on 1 September and currently appears on the cover of TIME's 2026 Best Inventions issue, which showcases the iPhone Duo.

The constraints in memory are absolutely a crisis.

John Ternus, Apple CEO, to TIME

The Financial Times disclosed in July that Apple had commenced testing memory chips sourced from a Chinese manufacturer, according to TIME's reporting. Following this revelation, a bipartisan coalition of senators sent correspondence to Apple, contending that such sourcing arrangements would jeopardize national security interests. Concurrently, the United States government has cautioned Apple against pursuing Chinese memory chip suppliers.

The foldable

Ternus, alongside five additional engineers, submitted a patent filing for foldable technology back in 2011, TIME reported. When discussing competing foldable devices that have entered the market, Ternus characterized them as appearing "kind of cheap and crappy". The iPhone Duo carries a starting price of $1,999 and incorporates a hinge mechanism comprising over 100 miniature precision components, all concealed beneath a custom polymer surface layer, according to TIME. The company has already announced that delivery timelines for the device will extend into 2027.

AI and the 'lunatic fringe'

Apple's redesigned Siri, which rolled out across the United States in September, operates on an Apple-developed model that incorporates technology derived from Google's Gemini. Ternus pushed back against suggestions that depending on a competitor's technology represents a step backward in Apple's vertical integration strategy.

There's not really a goal that we have to make every single thing in a product.

John Ternus, to TIME

According to Ternus, Apple concentrates its manufacturing efforts on components where the company can achieve meaningful differentiation. Greg Joswiak, who holds the position of senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple, characterized the company's artificial intelligence strategy as targeting mainstream consumers rather than technology enthusiasts. Joswiak stated that Apple's AI development is not oriented toward Silicon Valley's "lunatic fringe". When asked about OpenAI's hardware ambitions, Joswiak dismissed concerns, stating: "We don't feel threatened."

Washington and Tim Cook

Ternus disclosed that he has engaged in discussions with officials from the Trump administration to ensure both parties are "working through things together". Meanwhile, Tim Cook, who transitioned to the role of executive chairman, continues to serve as Apple's representative in international dealings, TIME reported.

Source: The Next Web