Episode Overview
Podcast: Earn Your Leisure
Episode: Who Will Win the AI Race? Apple, Google, Microsoft, and More
Date: January 17, 2026
Hosts: Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings
This episode dives deep into the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) among tech giants like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and more. The conversation revolves around which companies are best positioned to dominate the AI era, which might fall behind, and the challenges and opportunities within the constantly evolving tech sector. The hosts and guests engage in spirited debate, bringing perspectives informed by finance, tech trends, and business strategy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Who Will Survive—and Thrive—in the Age of AI?
[02:05]
- Analyst 2 spotlights SAP and Intuit as companies well-insulated (“AI indestructible”) from the potential adverse effects of advanced AI, contrasting them with firms like Duolingo, Adobe, and possibly Salesforce, which may be disrupted.
- Emphasis on finding businesses that will "not be negatively affected by AI, regardless of how advanced that get."
2. Heavyweights of the AI Race: Microsoft, Google, and Apple
[03:11–04:50]
- Analyst 1: “I think Microsoft for sure... How do we take AI and incorporate it to eat everybody else?”
- Microsoft’s aggressive adoption—like integrating Copilot and leveraging Azure—is seen as a blueprint for AI-led dominance.
- ServiceNow is proposed as a “sleeper” pick, due to its innovation and workflow management.
- Analyst 2: Expresses frustration with Apple for not investing enough in foundational AI infrastructure.
- Consensus agrees on Microsoft's and ServiceNow's strengths; Google's execution speed is highlighted.
3. The First True “Agentic” AI Platform
[04:29–06:44]
- Speculation about which company will debut a seamless, agentic AI system for enterprise or consumers (handling tasks such as email with zero friction).
- Analyst 1 bets on Google, citing its data access, user engagement, and history (“the win is built in”).
- Analyst 2: Predicts Apple’s valuation will slip to seventh, due to underinvestment in core AI.
4. Apple’s Ecosystem: Integration, but Lacking in AI Ambition?
[05:16–09:32]
- Analyst 3: “Apple is fully integrated. To me, Apple is the most integrated thing in my life—music, email, calendar, text—my whole life is run through Apple, not through Google.”
- Lively debate ensues about Apple's software integration vs. Google’s backend dominance (e.g., many iOS apps using Google’s services).
- Persistent theme: Apple's products remain essential to users’ lives, but their direct AI functionality and innovation are lagging.
5. Has Apple Fallen Behind in the AI Race?
[09:47–12:57]
- Analyst 2 is critical of Tim Cook, arguing Apple has missed key opportunities—especially failing to acquire game-changing AI talent or companies:
- “What I would like is a new executive who is going to acquire AI talent... Apple has acquired their way into greatness—and then they stopped acquiring and got comfortable.”
- Apple has ceded ground to competitors: “...You’re facing [Google/Meta] with no rock and no slingshot.”
6. The Innovation Drought at Apple
[11:56–13:32]
- Apple’s recent efforts (Vision Pro, wearables) haven’t significantly moved the needle versus innovations elsewhere.
- Example: Meta’s “wearable” AI glasses outpacing Apple’s Vision Pro.
- Despite this, Apple’s products are still universally adopted and sales remain robust.
7. The Intel & BlackBerry Warning
[14:08–14:47]
- Analyst 2 draws a parallel to former tech leaders Intel and BlackBerry, who failed to evolve and were overtaken:
- “If you’ve been around long enough... Tim Cook, out of the best of breed CEOs, has underdelivered the most in terms of AI.”
- Both hosts agree Apple’s stock has performed, but its leadership in AI is wanting.
8. Amazon Leadership Discussion & Looking Ahead
[15:48–16:13]
- Quick detour: Positive assessment of Andy Jassy at Amazon and rumors of Tim Cook’s impending retirement.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |---------------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:25 | Analyst 1 | “If you think of them, think of them as the person that’s going to eat up software companies by incorporating AI. And they’ve done that already with Copilot, what Azure is doing. We know that already.” | | 04:50 | Analyst 1 | “I think it’s Google.” (on who will launch a full-scale agentic AI service first) | | 09:00 | Analyst 3 | “…Apple is fully integrated. To me, Apple is the most integrated thing in my life—music, email, calendar, text—my whole life is run through Apple, not through Google.” | | 10:45 | Analyst 2 | “Apple has acquired their way into greatness—and then they stopped acquiring and got comfortable and everyone else is catching up. They’re falling on the market cap list like I said they would a year and a half ago.” | | 14:08 | Analyst 2 | “It reminds me of the same sentiment at a larger scale that Intel and BlackBerry had in 2008 and 2009… Tim Cook, out of the best of breed CEOs, has underdelivered the most in terms of AI.” | | 15:19 | Analyst 3 | “Sometimes you fire a coach just because you need a new culture... Maybe a new CEO comes in with a new culture, new game plan, shake things up and it’s a little bit more innovative. We’ll see.” |
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:05 — Which software companies will survive/thrive in AI?
- 03:11 — Microsoft’s AI dominance & ServiceNow as a sleeper pick
- 04:50 — Google vs. Apple: Who’s ready for “agentic” AI?
- 05:16 — Apple’s integration strengths argued
- 09:47 — Is Tim Cook “dropping the ball” in AI?
- 11:56 — Apple’s stalling innovation (Vision Pro, wearables, foldable iPhone)
- 13:24–14:47 — Apple’s resiliency vs. risk of falling behind, likened to BlackBerry/Intel
- 15:48 — Amazon, Jassy, and the possible end of the Tim Cook era
Overall Tone and Takeaway
The episode unfolds as a lively, at times contentious, roundtable with passionate takes. The hosts balance admiration for Apple’s ecosystem and brand loyalty with critical analysis of its strategic missteps in AI. Microsoft and Google emerge as acknowledged frontrunners, largely due to bold AI investments and faster innovation cycles, while Apple is depicted as a sleeping giant—still profitable and omnipresent, but possibly on the verge of being left behind unless it reboots its AI ambitions.
For listeners, the episode delivers a college-class-level business debate with plenty of relatable pop culture references, spirited disagreements, and practical investment insight. The hosts’ genuine passion for the topic and willingness to challenge each other ensures a dynamic listen—making the evolving AI “arms race” feel both personal and urgent.