During the closing moments of the recent developer conference, Tim Cook took a moment to reflect on a long career. The event showcased big software updates, but it also marked a personal milestone for him. Delivering his final keynote speech before stepping down, he shared his heartfelt thoughts about his time guiding the company. He explained how much he truly enjoyed seeing everyday developers use new tools to build amazing things.
The chief executive shares a personal goodbye with developers
The keynote presentation at WWDC 2026 was packed with new software details, but the very end of the show focused strictly on the people. Tim Cook closed the event by delivering a special message to the crowd. As he gets ready to leave his role, he wants to thank the community that builds apps for Apple. He explained that the company always aims to make products that improve daily life, and it relies heavily on developers to make that happen.
Because Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO, John Ternus is taking over the top job soon. This made his final words at the conference very meaningful for the audience watching.
He shared the following complete message right before the video ended:
“On a personal note, some of the greatest highlights of my time as CEO have been events like this. Sharing powerful new tools with all of you and then seeing what you create with them has been a constant reminder that imagination has no limits.
Over the years, you have helped people connect, create, learn, and experience the world in extraordinary new ways. And with the incredible capabilities we introduced today, and so many more still to come, I truly believe the best is still ahead.
At Apple, creating the best products in the world to deliver experiences that enrich people’s lives has always been our North Star.
It’s been the honor of a lifetime to help advance that mission with teams whose creativity, care, and conviction continue to make a lasting difference in people’s lives.
Thank you all for joining us. Let’s have a great WWDC!“
It was a quiet and personal way to wrap up a massive tech event. After spending so many years guiding the brand, he leaves knowing the developer community will keep pushing the limits of what phones and computers can do.
