Apple CEO Tim Cook calls for graduates to overcome “political noise” and algorithms
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- Apple CEO Tim Cook gave a commencement speech at Tulane University on May 18th.
- Cook cautioned the graduates to not get caught up in echo chambers and algorithms.
- He acknowledged the failures of his generation.
Are we so caught up in technology that we don’t notice any more the plight of people around us? On May 18th, Apple CEO Tim Cook gave a commencement speech at Tulane University where he addressed modern narcissism and how to combat it.
“In a world where we obsessively document our own lives, most of us don’t pay nearly enough attention to what we owe one another,” Cook said. “It’s about recognizing that human civilization began when we realized that we could do more together.”
He also addressed another very specific modern problem where social media sites show you only what you want to see and hear, often creating bubbles or echo chambers. To get beyond your comfort zone and to grow as a person, you need to get to information that you don’t already know – information that can change your mind and challenge your beliefs.
“Today, certain algorithms pull you toward the things you already know, believe, or like, and they push away everything else,” said Cook. “Push back. It shouldn’t be this way. But in 2019 opening your eyes and seeing things in a new way can be a revolutionary act.”
Insiders might also interpret the mention of “certain algorithms” as a specific dig at Facebook, which has a friend-centric content selection approach.
Cook urged the students to get beyond paralyzing inaction, especially on big issues like climate change. “In some important ways, my generation has failed you,” Cook acknowledged. “We spent too much time debating, too focused on the fight and not enough on progress.”
What important, according to Cook, is to not get tied up by the “political noise,” adding “after all, we don’t build monuments to trolls”.
“When we talk about climate change, I challenge you to look for those who have the most to lose and find the real, true empathy that comes from something shared,” said Cook. “When you do that, the political noise dies down and you can feel your feet planted on solid ground.”
