Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'We Want to Change the World Through Our Products'

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke with CNBC's Mad Money host Jim Cramer yesterday for a two-part interview covering a wide range of topics. In the second portion of the interview, which aired tonight, Cook talked about Apple's recent feud with the FBI, what Apple stands for, and who he personally admires.

On a question about what Apple stands for and what he's most proud of, Tim Cook said Apple conducts business in a way that's "right and just." He pointed towards the company's environmental efforts, use of renewable energy, focus on human rights, employee shareholder plans, and privacy efforts. "All of these things help us stand for something," he said. "And I think that's what people want."

He went on to say that he's proud of the products Apple makes that give customers the ability to do things they couldn't have done otherwise, from giving a voice to an autistic child to providing tools for artists to giving grandparents a way to talk to their grandkids with FaceTime. "All of these things excite me because they're bringing out the best in people," he said.

Apple has always stood for building the best products on Earth that enrich people's lives. Whether it was Steve's Apple or -- I don't view it as my Apple today, I'm the CEO of it -- that is what we're about. And so we want to change the world through our products. We produce products that give people the ability to do things they couldn't do before.

The discussion on Apple's values turned towards the company's recent dispute with the FBI, where Apple was ordered to unlock the iPhone 5c of San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, leading to a vicious and public debate between Apple and the U.S. government. Echoing past statements, Cook said the FBI's request, which asked for a new version of iOS that bypassed passcode restrictions, went too far and had the potential to put millions of people at risk. He said Apple had to stand up for what it believed in, even though it led to a fight with the government.

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Government in general has gotten quite dysfunctional in the U.S. and in some other countries as well. What that does, I believe, is put more responsibility on the everyday citizen and companies to help promote change and improve things. And I don't mean to play a government role, but it's not just government who can change things. All of us are responsible for changing things.

Cook reiterated his hope that the encryption debate will lead to a discussion where different groups, from law enforcement to civil liberties groups to technology companies, are represented and can weigh in on the issue.

In a final question, on who he admires, Cook named human rights leaders he's spoken of in the past and former Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

I had incredible love and respect for Steve and I think there has never been anyone like him and believe his contributions and gifts to the world were unbelievable. I also deeply admire people who fought for human rights and were pushing humanity forward. People who I think of when I say that are Bobby Kennedy and Dr. King. These people ultimately risked everything, including their lives, to push people forward so that everyone could be included. They were all about inclusiveness. I'm a great believer in inclusiveness.

The first half of Cook's interview with Cramer aired last night and covered topics including innovation, the future of the iPhone and Apple Watch, the growth of Apple services, Apple's performance in China, and more.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'We Want to Change the World Through Our Products'

 

[kyleh22]

This is just Tim Cook playing damage control. Apple's been saying the same stuff since Job's passing.

 

[chrismail627]

Hard to change the world with 16 GB base storage

 

[definitive]

Maybe he should consider changing his company's aging products first before he starts sticking his nose into other place...

 

[vertsix]

"we're innovating i swear

pls don't sell aapl stock c:"

 

[CFreymarc]

Tim, while Steve Jobs was great and had wonderful vision, he was not unique. He follows in the footsteps of American industrial Greats such as Eli Whitney, George Westinghouse, Henry Ford, Walt Disney and Robert Noyce.

 

[Crosscreek]

I must have missed the part on innovation

 

[Asarien]

Hard to change the world with 16 GB base storage

Hush. You're making too much sense.

 

[farewelwilliams]

by making batteries thinner

 

[magicschoolbus]

He's been in the public eye a lot more now since the stocks are being sold off

 

[chrismail627]

I like how he says he "doesn't view it as [his] Apple." It is your company Tim, it's time you take control of it and fix what's wrong. It almost sounds like he doesn't want to take responsibility.

 

[Larry-K]

Try making something I want to buy, and I'll help out.

 

[icrude]

You're not going to do that with a watch.

 

[jayducharme]

Government in general has gotten quite dysfunctional in the U.S. and in some other countries as well. What that does, I believe, is put more responsibility on the everyday citizen and companies to help promote change and improve things. And I don't mean to play a government role, but it's not just government who can change things. All of us are responsible for changing things.

I think he sincerely believes that. And I do think he wants to leave the world a better place. But who decides what's "better"? Who decides what the change is? Governments think they know best. So do businesses. So do citizens. Their ideas don't always mesh. I'm interested to see how Apple's idea of change will gradually play out not only in the U.S. courts, but also in China and India.

 

[SBlue1]

By selling obsolete products (16gig iPhones, 3 year old Mac Pros, 4 year old MacBook Pros) Apple is hardly thinking about the planet.

 

[Rocketman]

'We Want to Change the World Through Our Products'

It has worked in practice.

 

[garirry]

Translation: We want to make as much money as possible, even if it means treating our customers like ****.

 

[2IS]

Well gosh, I'm not sure what more they can do. I mean if a tablet that's half as versatile and twice as expensive as their competition isn't innovation, I don't know what is...

 

[thermodynamic]

Um, his claim is what every company wants to do. And for the same reason: Personal profit. That's all for-profit companies really care about. They are not altruistic, pro-business advocate Ayn Rand herself said altruism was a sin...

 

[Gaprofitt]

Get the next big thing and don't look back..

 

[thermodynamic]

Well gosh, I'm not sure what more they can do. I mean if a tablet that's half as versatile and twice as expensive as their competition isn't innovation, I don't know what is...

2001, Star Trek, and lots of sci-fi shows and movies from the 1960s onward all put out the ideas - Jobs and Cook saying "they're magic" to us as if we're toddlers doesn't cut it when they needed Wozniak and actual people with technical brains to take someone else's (not Jobs', clearly) sci-fi ideas to make them into real life.

Society owes the sci-fi and creative communities a lot more than just the constant butt of jokes on sitcoms.
[doublepost=1462319591][/doublepost]

Get the next big thing and don't look back..

Not looking is why society has devolved into such a pitiful state. ;(

 

[kingofwale]

Can a single competent reporter ask why Apple is still offering 16GB storage (non upgradable no less) in 2016??

Absolutely laughable.

 

[2IS]

Um, his claim is what every company wants to do. And for the same reason: Personal profit. That's all for-profit companies really care about. They are not altruistic, pro-business advocate Ayn Rand herself said altruism was a sin...

"companies want to make money" That's some valuable info!

 

[keysofanxiety]

It seems that whenever I begin to warm to TC, he suddenly comes out with deluded, smug comments like this, that just smacks of ignorance and arrogance.

I simply can't comprehend how he can so actively and willingly overlook how he is squeezing ludicrous profit margins from every line, taking advantage of loyal consumers, and destroying a brand's long-term reputation with outdated hardware and poorly performing machines.

 

[Wowereit]

Some people are really living in the Apple bubble.
Yeah, any product which isn't engineered by Apple is garbage and more storage is bad, because you force people.
Stop smoking crack.