Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently expressed his perspective on Apple’s innovation and business practices during an interview with Joe Rogan on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. In the interview published last Friday, Zuckerberg criticized Apple, suggesting that the tech giant has not significantly innovated since the introduction of the iPhone.
Zuckerberg highlighted that while Apple was responsible for creating one of the most popular smartphones globally, he believes the company has failed to produce groundbreaking innovations in recent years. He stated, “It’s like Steve Jobs invented the iPhone and now they’re just kind of sitting on it 20 years later.”
Moreover, Zuckerberg raised concerns about Apple’s profit-making approaches, specifically targeting the company’s developer fees and the creation of a closed ecosystem that hinders the entry of other companies into the market. He expressed his belief that Apple has been leveraging its dominant position in the industry to extract profits, referring to it as “squeezing people.”
In discussing Meta’s own experiences with Apple, Zuckerberg mentioned a specific instance related to the development of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. He asserted that Apple declined to permit Meta to utilize the same protocols used for AirPods, which would have facilitated seamless connectivity between the Meta glasses and iPhones. Zuckerberg accused Apple of using privacy and security concerns as a pretext to maintain control over its ecosystem.
Echoing Zuckerberg’s sentiments, Meta’s chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth also expressed apprehension about Apple’s practices, particularly emphasizing the restrictive nature of Apple’s devices and the ability to prioritize Apple’s products over others. Bosworth highlighted AirPods as an example of Apple’s self-preferencing strategy.
Notably, the ongoing feud between Zuckerberg and Apple has been evident for several years, with past criticisms from Zuckerberg directed at various aspects of Apple’s operations, including pricing, the App Store, privacy policies, and the Vision Pro VR headsets. This ongoing dispute reflects the competitive dynamics within the tech industry, where major players often engage in public critiques of each other’s strategies and products.
While acknowledging the competitive nature of the tech industry, Zuckerberg remained optimistic about the potential for innovation and evolution within the sector. He emphasized the dynamic nature of technological advancements, suggesting that companies that fail to adapt and innovate risk being surpassed by competitors over time.
As both Meta and Apple continue to navigate the evolving landscape of technology and consumer preferences, their interactions and criticisms serve as a reflection of the broader competition and challenges present in the industry. The nuanced relationship between these tech giants sheds light on the complexities of innovation, competition, and market dynamics within the realms of Silicon Valley and beyond.
