Apple CEO Tim Cook, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, and Bai Chongen, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Global Wealth Management Forum and Dean of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, engaged in a dialogue. (Photo provided by the organizer)

On October 18, the Global Wealth Management Forum 2025 Shanghai Suzhou Creek Conference opened at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. During the morning plenary session, "International Dialogue: The Innovation Boundaries of a Technology-Driven Era," Apple CEO Tim Cook and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, and Bai Chongen, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Global Wealth Management Forum and Dean of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as artificial intelligence and technological change.

As previously reported, Cook visited China on October 13th, first appearing at THE MONSTERS 10th Anniversary Exhibition in Shanghai. During his two days in Shanghai, he also appeared on Apple's TikTok livestream and at Lilith Games. Then, on October 15th and 16th, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Lecheng and Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with Cook in Beijing. On the morning of the 18th, Cook appeared again in Shanghai, discussing the innovation wave led by AI technology at the 2025 Shanghai Suzhou Creek Conference.

"I worry that people will think like computers."

Cook stated that China has adopted technologies from graphical user interfaces and personal computers to the internet and cloud technology far more quickly than other countries. However, innovation driven by artificial intelligence may be even more important than all of these; in retrospect, AI will undoubtedly be seen as extremely important.

He said, “I’m not too worried about computers thinking like humans; I’m worried about people thinking like computers, without values ​​or empathy. But I believe that if Apple and others driving AI development consistently put the user at the center, artificial intelligence can do amazing things.”

Currently, Apple is applying AI in various aspects, including programming development, factory manufacturing, sales training, and more. "There's almost no area in the company that isn't touched by artificial intelligence. Because if there were, I would definitely ask them why they aren't using AI," Cook said. In his view, AI has limitless applications; the only limitation is imagination. A company that doesn't deploy AI will lose its competitive edge, miss out on revenue growth opportunities, and lose everything it strives for in business.

"The creativity of young people in China is second to none."

Speaking about China's AI ecosystem, Cook said, "The creativity of young people in China is improving remarkably, which is impressive. I've been all over the world, and the creativity here is second to none."

Bai Chongen stated in the conversation that at the foundational model level, Chinese developers are catching up rapidly. Recent data shows that the share of contributions from Chinese developers in the open-source community is increasing. In this field, Chinese developers have transformed from followers to cutting-edge innovators. In terms of applications, Chinese developers enjoy many advantages, with abundant application scenarios and industrial-grade data, enabling them to achieve significant innovations in applications.

Drawing on his experience interacting with businesses in China, Cook remarked on the rapid pace at which Chinese consumers embraced artificial intelligence, and the unexpectedly innovative applications of AI by Chinese developers and artists. The application of AI in China is not only fast-paced but also not limited to the tech industry; various sectors are paying attention and actively utilizing it.

Cook mentioned that Apple is currently working to introduce Apple Intelligence to China. Its essence is integrating artificial intelligence at the operating system level and providing functionality in the applications we use every day, whether it's writing tools, image generation, or intelligent replies.

The impact of AI on education and health is drawing attention.

"We are now using AI in many ways; it is changing people's lives and even saving lives," Cook said. He added that AI is not just being applied to a single field; it's not just chatbots, but is integrated into everything we do. During the conversation, the impact of AI on health and education became a key topic.

Cook mentioned that Apple has been using AI in the health field for many years, such as using smartwatches to detect atrial fibrillation, falls, collisions, and call for emergency help. He cited several examples he had encountered where smartwatches helped people discover their own health problems and assist them in calling for help in emergencies. Currently, the Apple Watch is implementing health alerts for more areas, such as high blood pressure detection.

"The intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare is a huge opportunity," the interview pointed out, adding that this can be seen as the democratization of health. The intervention of AI makes the competitive environment more level, allowing for simple checkups to be performed at home, whether in rural or urban environments.

Regarding the impact of AI on education, Cook stated that past education often started with a problem and students were graded based on their ability to solve it. Now, it might be the other way around. In the world of AI, the answers are almost always known, making the questions themselves the most important. Education should now teach people how to think about problems, ask questions, and then find the answers. This will help cultivate critical thinking, which is exactly what people need. Furthermore, in the past, when students encountered difficulties in class, those with better academic abilities could seek extracurricular tutoring, but most students likely didn't. AI can democratize tutoring, making tutoring accessible to everyone.

Cook expressed great optimism and excitement about the current wave of AI innovation. AI is being applied on a large scale in various fields, and more importantly, he is not just a bystander.