Before ending his business trip in Japan last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down for an interview with a Japanese publication while on Japan's famous bullet train. Cook said that even though the iPhone turns ten next year, the technology is anything but mature. Smartphones are 9 years old, he noted. "We are not even teenagers yet. We just got going." Given the promise of AI and other new technologies, Cook said, "I think there is an incredible future ahead."

Cook also revealed that one of the many focuses of research that will take place at the new Apple R&D center opening in Yokohama in December will be artificial intelligence. It will be an R&D center for 'deep engineering' and very different from the R&D that they'll be doing in two of their new Chinese facilities (one and two).

Cooks said that "I cannot tell you the specifics. The specific work is very different." However, Cook did say that Apple intends to capitalize on AI in various ways, in cooperation with Japanese companies. AI is "horizontal in nature, running across all products" and is used "in ways that most people don't even think about," such as increasing device battery life, asking Apple Music to recommend new music to subscribers or help you remember where your car is parked.

Beyond that, Cook suggested his company wants to use Apple Pay, the iPhone and the Apple Watch to promote a cashless society. "We would like to be a catalyst for taking cash out of the system," he said. "We don't think the consumer particularly likes cash."

Lastly, Cook seemed unperturbed by criticism that Apple has produced few innovative products in recent years. He emphasized the company's strategy of expanding the scope of smart devices from accessories for life to tools for business, medical care and other purposes.

You could read more about his interview with Nikkei here. Below are a few of Tim Cook's photos of his Japanese trip are noted below.

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