/CFP
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc., said on Monday that he has very high expectations for Chinese app developers to succeed in spatial computing with the company's augmented reality (AR) device Vision Pro.
"We already have a group of developers working out of Shanghai (for Vision Pro). We've already seen some of the things coming out, and they're going to be blown away. We're so excited about it," Cook said in an interview with China Daily.
Cook made the remarks in an Apple store in Chengdu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, China Daily reported. It is his second trip to China in 2023, which marks the 30th anniversary of Apple's presence in China.
Cook's China trip also highlights the importance of China to the U.S. tech heavyweight as a crucial market, key supply chain center and innovation engine, according to China Daily.
Apple CEO Tim Cook attends the Apple Original Series "Ted Lasso" Season 3 Red Carpet Premiere at Westwood Village Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 7, 2023. /Reuters
Vision Pro, unveiled in June by Apple, is the first major new product category the U.S. company has launched in almost a decade.
In the future, Chinese app developers have the potential to repeat their global success stories on the company's visionOS platform, just as they have done on Apple's iOS app store, said the Apple CEO.
"I can't wait to see who and how they will be successful," Cook said.
His remarks show that Chinese developers are important to Apple's current iPhone ecosystem and key to the company's future innovation ecosystem of AR. Apple's AR innovation ecosystem and the production of its AR devices rely on China, according to China Daily.
Luxshare Precision Industry, a Chinese electronics company, said it is preparing to make the Apple Vision Pro, an AR headset, for Apple. The achievement showcases Chinese suppliers' prowess in advanced manufacturing and their important position in Apple's supply chains, China Daily reported.
At the Chengdu Apple Store, Cook also saw a competition of the "Honor of Kings," a popular China-developed game.
"The game sets a new bar. It is so popular in China and around the world. You can see that people are so passionate about the game and so excited. It's great to see," said Cook.