Mac daddy: Apple’s new boss

This episode of The Intelligence from The Economist explores two major themes: Apple's leadership transition and demographic challenges in rural Japan. Apple is set to appoint John Ternus, its head of hardware engineering, as CEO in September, succeeding Tim Cook. While Cook’s tenure is celebrated for financial growth and operational excellence, the new leader faces the immense challenge of steering Apple into the AI era, a domain where the company has lagged behind peers like Google. The choice of a hardware-focused successor underscores Apple’s enduring belief in innovation through physical products, with hopes pinned on transformative devices like smart glasses. Meanwhile, in rural Japan, a growing exodus of young women to cities is threatening the survival of small towns. This demographic crisis is driven by gender inequality, cultural pressures, and limited job opportunities. Local governments are responding with gender equality workshops and even government-backed matchmaking, though these efforts are criticized for conflating equality with marriage and reproduction. The episode also reflects on the historical rise and decline of boredom in Britain, once seen as a societal scourge but now considered an endangered state in the age of constant digital stimulation.