Tim Cook Reveals the Sectors Apple Wants to Conquer Next

Looking to the future, Cook says that work within the health-care sector may be one of Apple's biggest opportunities of all.

learn more about Geoff Weiss

By Geoff Weiss

REUTERS | Stephen Lam

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

As Apple is poised for its first foray into a new product category under the stewardship of CEO Tim Cook, the company is already lining up its next expansion targets.

Connected cars and homes will be key areas of focus, Cook told CNBC in an interview yesterday -- though health may be the greatest opportunity of all. "For years, people have depended on strictly someone else to determine their health," Cook said, "and now these devices, in essence, empower people to manage and track their own health and fitness."

Cook was referring to ResearchKit, an opt-in program that allows iPhone owners to participate in medical research studies. In 24 hours, for instance, Cook said 11,000 people signed up for a Stanford University cardiovascular disease study. "It would've normally taken 50 medical centers an entire year to sign up that many participants."

He adds that developments in the sector could push our life expectancy much longer than it currently is -- even as much as 50 years.

Cook also discussed the ways in which a looming paranoia about competitors -- despite Apple's dominant position in the market -- has always pushed the company to foster game-changing initiatives. "We're always paranoid," he said. "We always want the very best product, and so if we're not beating someone else, we're trying to beat the thing that we have currently shipping. Everybody here lives on edge."

Related: With ResearchKit, Apple Wants to Use Your iPhone For Medical Research

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Thought Leaders

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.

Business News

'Could This Be True?': Blockbuster Might Be Teasing a Surprise Comeback

The company has shuttered all of its locations except for one in Bend, Oregon.

Growing a Business

The No.1 Most Bankable Skill You Must Have to Succeed in 2023

If you don't foster this skill, you'll fall behind the pack financially and professionally in 2023.

Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Business News

I'm a Former Google Recruiter. Here's How to Land a Job in Tech — and What Can Blow Your Interview

A former Google recruiter says layoffs may be trendy, but tech workers are always needed. Here's how to land a job at a major tech company.