Will Apple survive without Steve Jobs?

Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs pictured on Apple store computer screens in Rome (Andrew Medichini/Canadian Press)

In the wake of Steve Jobs's recent and untimely death on Wednesday, some are already wondering if Apple, the company he founded, has lost its core.

Related: After Steve Jobs, what now for apple?

Many investors have put their money on the man. Every time Jobs had a health scare - particularly since his battle against pancreatic cancer began in 2004 - Apple stock would immediately tank, before recovering to trade higher within a few weeks.

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being," read a company statement. "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

Despite the fact that Tim Cooks, Apple's new CEO, was hand-picked by Jobs, many critics say no one can quite fill Jobs's famous laced sneakers.

"Apple is Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs is Apple, and Steve Jobs is innovation," Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry said recently. "You can teach people how to be operationally efficient, you can hire consultants to tell you how to do that, but God creates innovation ... Apple without Steve Jobs is nothing."

If Apple's spirit and foundation is gone, what will become of the company? Can Apple continue to thrive without him? Will Tim Cooks take the same risks that Jobs would have pushed for?

(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)