AI is driving the market in multiple directions in 2026 and this week’s winner was Intel, who has such high demand it’s selling chips it once thought were worthless. We discuss the dynamics and get to the Jobs/Cook run at Apple, and another SaaSpocalypse. Travis Hoium, Lou Whitemand, and Jason Moser discuss: - The Jobs/Cook era at Apple - Intel &amp; AI - SaaSpocalype 3.0 - Value or falling knife stocks Companies discussed: Adobe (ADBE), Salesforce (CRM), Palantir (PLTR), The Trade Desk (TTD), Apple (AAPL), Servicenow (NOW), Southwest Airlines (LUV), Alphabet (GOOG). Host: Travis Hoium Guests: Lou Whitemand, Jason Moser Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jobs/Cook Era at Apple, Intel & AI, and Another SaaSpocalype

Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing

# Full Transcript

**Podcast:** Motley Fool Money

## Transcript

Did Intel become the big AI winner of 2026? Motley Fool Money starts now.

At the global headquarters, this is Motley Fool Money. Welcome to Motley Fool Money. I am Travis Hoyam, joined today by Jason Moser and Lou Whiteman.

And guys, we are going to get to Intel and some of the implications for artificial intelligence, why this is the hottest stock seemingly in the market right now. But I want to start with Apple and Tim Cook. He announced that he's going to retire as CEO or step down as CEO later this year. And there's been a lot of discussion about Cook's legacy, including on one of the Motley Fool Money shows earlier this week. But I wanted to go back almost 30 years to the JobsCook era of Apple.

And this is one of the most successful stock runs of all time. Not only did Cook have a phenomenal run as CEO, but obviously Steve Jobs came back, saved the company, came out with things like the iPod, eventually the iPhone and the iPad. The Mac has gone from being this kind of forgotten product in the 90s when I was in high school to now it's kind of the go-to PC for most people at home.

So Lou, when you think back on that history and kind of the end of this era, what do you think about as an investor? So I want to be careful here because I think Cook was a great CEO and, you know, regardless of circumstances and I don't want to play otherwise. But it does, the lesson for me here is a lot of being a great CEO is being the right person at the right time. Yeah. When Steve Jobs was the CEO, especially when he came out, it was about experimentation. It was about taking big bets.

It was about finding, defining products and, you know, introducing them. The famous one more thing where like this was a company that was not just throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what stick, but it was one that we have got to try new things. By the time Cook got into the role, it was about stability. It was about maintaining. And we've seen that. I mean, how many years have we talked about, oh, there's going to be an Apple car. There's going to be an Apple TV because as investors, we were conditioned for jobs in the one big thing.

I think I'm glad those things didn't come. And I think it's funny because I think investors still are sort of waiting for that. Like what's next from Apple. But really, Jobs built something amazing by taking huge risks. Cook sustained and built off of what Jobs did by not taking these big risks and not saying, yeah, what the heck, let's do a car. And I think that there's a lot of takeaways there when we kind of assess management at a lot of different companies.

You want someone really smart, but you also just want someone who is the right person for the task at hand. Jason, you know, we often talk about founders as these visionary people. You know, I think as Motley Fool investors, like we tend to sort of over index to founders. They tend to be the kind of people that can...

The Jobs/Cook Era at Apple, Intel & AI, and Another SaaSpocalype

Transcript

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Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
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The Jobs/Cook Era at Apple, Intel & AI, and Another SaaSpocalype

Transcript

Built for investment professionals

Every day you wait, your competitors are findingedge in conversations you're not hearing.

Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
edge in conversations you're not hearing.