2025-10-14 06:01:59
Former Apple CEO John Sculley has said that OpenAI is Apple’s “first real competitor in decades”.
Sculley – who led the Cupertino-based company between 1983 and 1993 – said the ChatGPT maker’s influence in shaping how people interact with computers marks a turning point comparable to the launch of the original Macintosh or iPhone.
Speaking at the Zeta Live conference, he said: “For the first time in decades, Apple has a real competitor.
“OpenAI has managed to capture the world’s imagination with generative AI, and that kind of momentum doesn’t happen often. It’s reminiscent of what Apple did when it brought personal computing to the masses.”
Sculley praised OpenAI’s strategic focus on integrating AI into everyday life through tools like ChatGPT, its Sora video generator, and upcoming AI-powered search and productivity platforms, noting that the company has “set a new bar for what intelligent computing should look like”.
He added: “Apple has always been about humanising technology – making complex systems simple and delightful to use.
“What OpenAI is doing now with AI feels like the next iteration of that same vision. It’s pushing everyone, including Apple, to evolve faster.”
The comments come at a time when Apple is under growing pressure to strengthen its AI ecosystem.
Despite unveiling Apple Intelligence last year, critics have argued that the company has lagged behind rivals like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, all of which have deeper ties to AI model developers.
Sculley – who famously hired Steve Jobs before the two clashed over Apple’s direction in the 1980s – said he sees parallels between Jobs’ vision and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s approach to user-first design.
He explained: “Both leaders think beyond technology. They’re driven by how people experience it – and that’s what makes OpenAI such a formidable challenger.”
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