Cupid Strikes Cupertino: Ive, Altman, and the AI Affair That’s Giving Apple a Headache

Cupertino suddenly looks less untouchable

The photo of Jony Ive and Sam Altman making the rounds—posed like a New York Times wedding announcement—feels symbolic. Apple, once the undisputed design and innovation king, is now under siege. Tariff threats loom from both China and the U.S, while new competitors like Altman’s AI-forward ambitions hint at a coming shift. With hardware commoditizing and regulatory heat rising, Cupertino suddenly looks less untouchable.