Cook says AI use is booming and is reshaping Apple's supply chain
Apple executive chairman Tim Cook said at the Global Wealth Management Forum 2026 Shanghai Suhewan conference on October 16 that AI applications are seeing explosive growth, according to Cailianshe. He said AI-assisted programming has significantly lowered the barrier to coding, while machine learning has made quality inspection highly automated and more precise, citing iPhone color checks as an example. The same day, Shanghai party secretary Chen Jining met Cook, with the two sides discussing cooperation on AI development, industrial ecosystems and supply chain management. The trip is Cook's first to China since stepping down as CEO to become executive chairman of the board.
Cook said machine learning now handles iPhone color inspection and other quality checks, indicating AI is embedded in specific steps of Apple's mass-production supply chain.