Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently expressed his opinion about Apple, stating that the tech giant “[hasn’t] really invented anything great in a while” and is simply riding on its previous successes. He commented, “Steve Jobs invented the iPhone and now they’re just kind of sitting on it 20 years later,” during a podcast with Joe Rogan.
In the nearly three-hour long podcast, available here, Zuckerberg discussed Meta’s recent moderation policy changes and its shift away from diversity and inclusion policies, alongside Meta’s ongoing conflicts with Apple regarding its stringent policies.
The conversation initially revolved around Rogan’s concerns with Apple, where he revealed his decision to switch “from Apple to Android” due to his dislike of being tied to a single company. He voiced his disapproval of Apple’s App Store policies, stating, “The way they do that Apple store, where they charge people 30 percent,” is outrageous.
Responding to Rogan, Zuckerberg acknowledged the iPhone as “one of the most important inventions probably of all time,” but argued that Apple has implemented rules that “feel arbitrary” and “thoroughly hamstrung the ability for anyone else to build something that can connect to the iPhone in the same way” as Apple’s own products, such as AirPods. He believes that if Apple allowed other companies to use its protocol, there would likely be superior competitors to AirPods.
It’s evident that there are business motivations behind Zuckerberg’s criticisms. Meta has faced ongoing challenges with Apple, particularly regarding the 30 percent cut Apple takes on certain App Store transactions. Apple’s iOS restrictions have hindered Meta’s ability to compete effectively in hardware and have cost the company billions in advertising revenue. Zuckerberg estimated that without Apple’s “random rules,” Meta could potentially double its profits.
As pressure mounts, Apple has begun to adapt its policies, particularly in the European Union in response to new laws, and it is currently facing a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice for allegedly monopolizing the smartphone market. However, Apple appears determined to maintain its closed ecosystem until compelled to change.
Zuckerberg cautioned that Apple’s strategy of prioritizing its products could ultimately be detrimental. He noted that Apple has “been so off their game in terms of not really releasing many innovative things,” suggesting that stagnation in the tech industry could eventually lead to competitors surpassing them.
Apple has not yet responded to Zuckerberg’s comments.
In addition to his critiques of Apple, Zuckerberg covered various tech topics during his conversation with Rogan, delving into AI and screen time management with his daughter playing Minecraft. He also discussed the future of neural interfaces, emphasizing how physical and digital realms will increasingly intertwine.
He predicted that while widespread deployment of brain-computer interfaces may take time, Meta is developing a wrist-based neural interface as part of its Orion augmented reality glasses. Zuckerberg envisions a future where users can interact with their surroundings using a neural wristband and AR glasses, allowing them to communicate with friends or AI and receive instant information seamlessly integrated into their environment.
“I think we’ll basically be in this wild world where most of the world will be physical, but there will be this increasing amount of virtual objects or people who are beaming in or hologramming into different things to interact in different ways,” he explained. “We’re in 2025. It’s one world.”
