Apple CEO Tim Cook: Company Open to Acquisitions to Boost Growth

Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed interest in acquisitions to boost growth, saying the company is open to M&A that accelerates its road map. Apple rarely acquires large companies, with its largest deal being Beats Electronics for $3 billion in 2014. Cook said Apple has bought seven companies this year, but its deals are smaller compared to Big Tech's AI and cloud investments.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated that the company is open to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to accelerate its roadmap, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence (AI). This marks a departure from Apple's traditional reluctance to engage in large-scale acquisitions. The tech giant has been acquiring smaller companies in recent years, including fintech, augmented reality, and AI startups.

Cook stated during Thursday's earnings call that Apple is "very open to M&A that accelerates our road map." He emphasized that the company is not limited to acquiring only small companies, but rather, it will consider any company that can help it advance its goals. Apple has already acquired seven companies this year from various sectors, including video game studios and fintech startups.

While Apple's recent deals have been relatively small compared to its Big Tech counterparts, Cook hinted that the company could consider larger acquisitions to bolster its AI capabilities. This comes as Apple faces pressure to catch up in the AI supremacy race, with competitors like Google and Meta making significant investments in the field.

Apple's recent AI developments have been met with mixed reactions. While the company unveiled its Apple Intelligence AI platform last year, it has faced delays in rolling out highly anticipated features such as an AI-enhanced Siri. Cook has stated that the more personalized, AI-powered version of Siri is now expected to launch in 2026.

Despite these challenges, Apple reported strong financial results for the third quarter of 2025. The company delivered record revenue of $94 billion, beating Wall Street's estimates. Its stock price rose 2.4% after hours on Thursday, following the earnings call. However, Apple's stock has been down 17% so far this year due to concerns about its AI progress and potential tariffs on iPhone sales.

Cook's statement on M&A opens up new possibilities for Apple's growth strategy. The company will likely continue to explore acquisitions to enhance its AI capabilities and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

References:
[1] https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-apple-acquisition-merger-ai-earnings-ma-startups-2025-8
[2] https://www.investopedia.com/tim-cook-says-apple-is-investing-significantly-in-ai-and-could-buy-another-company-11783138
[3] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tim-cook-shopping-mood-034343237.html