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Tesla-Bound Chris Lattner May Have 'Felt Constrained' by Apple's Culture of Secrecy [Update: Denied]
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From what I understand of Apple's corporate culture (no idea of the real truth, however), losing talent because of that culture is not surprising. Jobs was unique in a unique time in tech and is long, long gone. Any culture developed to sustain how he operated, might struggle under more business-oriented leadership that uses that same model. There has to be accountability and focus, but smart people in today's world like to be smart people in today's world.
That is just one of the downsides of off shoring your manufacturing base.
One has to wonder if you ever set foot in an Engineering Lab. ALL companies have or should have extensive security against Corporate Espionage. Companies in Apples league have the most to loose and thus have the most extensive security. I rather doubt this rumor has much merit.
He was with the company for over 10 years. If the culture of secrecy was a problem, I'd imagine that he'd have quit sooner. Maybe it was something that irked him, as I'm sure it does for many, but I'm more willing that it was more just a culmination of things where he is just ready to move on.
Not a healthy sign when top talent keep bailing from the sinking ship. And, before the collapse of any civilization is the building of a great monument like the spaceship building.
I'm sure that after devoting all of his time for many years into creating swift he is ready to move onto a completely new challenge, in a new company, with new people. A hit for Apple to lose someone like him from their team, but swift has a strong foundation to keep progressing.
However, it is unfortunate that Apple appears to have lost some of their internal cultural magic that kept people motivated and happy. Have they become too large and mired in bureaucracy like most other big companies?
However, it is unfortunate that Apple appears to have lost some of their internal cultural magic that kept people motivated and happy. Have they become too large and mired in bureaucracy like most other big companies?
I doubt Apple's secrecy was the straw that even bruised the camels back here. Even the roaches milling in the corporate kitchen pantry go in knowing about Apple's secrecy. And no one wants to divulge their projects only to be scooped by a competitor. But I could see Apple's increasingly "corporate" groupthink style shackling his creativity.
That's short sighted to begin with. Apple's secrecy is extended to all or almost all of their products in hardware or software. Their stuff is copied everywhere and not just in the way some phones look from the exterior.
My nephew works at Tesla, in a high ranking position, and is concerned about how quickly they abandon current tech and specs and add in new. It's practically daily and he's concerned that the business model will not be able to sustain this over the long term. It's also a VERY results driven environment that does NOT allow for ANY failure. One failure, you're out.
But he likes it and is thriving.
But he likes it and is thriving.
Musk isn't the most public person. I know SpaceX is very secretive about what they're working on. I'd be interested to see how Tesla is less secretive than Apple.
And a promotion from Director to VP probably didn't have anything to do with it either.
It's amazing how the media can spin this as a negative for Apple. Not only were they able to retain his services for over 11 years, but Apple has always been secretive... especially since Steve returned. It has been a part of their competitive advantage. The only reason Apple was better at it back in the day was because they were a FAR smaller company.
For those doubting the veracity of this story, there's anecdotal history that lends credence. Rumor has it, Apple lost the entire networking team in 2015 due to it's secrecy and refusal to let the team participate in Facebooks OCP project. Story here. End result was a little company called SnapRoute. The founder addresses the Apple issue right on the website.
Point being, even though it can't be directly attributed to Lattner, the idea of bright people feeling "cooped up" at Apple is not without merit.
Point being, even though it can't be directly attributed to Lattner, the idea of bright people feeling "cooped up" at Apple is not without merit.
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I agree with that. But the level of secrecy also caused the antenna fiasco. The fact when they were field testing it using a cover that changed the physical appearance of the phone in public made the issue of using the phone naked unaware. Thus, the secrecy caused an issue. Honestly I don't look at peoples phone in the public. Perhaps in the Valley or at or near Apple campus people are more eagle eyed, but if I were to see an unknown phone well enough to say wtf is that, I would probably think it is something from Japan.
I agree secrecy is needed, but super über secrecy where departments aren't privy to things is just rediculous. They add hurdles unnecessarily. They all signed NDAs up a wazoo working there. I signed an NDA at my place of employment. I am not stupid and people that work for Apple clearly aren't either.
How is the share all philosophy able to keep secrets better than the ultra-secretive apple where leaks occur all the time. I am not talking about supply chain stuff but leaked internal emails and what not from 1 Infinite Loop?
There are probably a lot of visionaries out there, but how many of them would easily be controlled by stock owners. SJ and EM are the only ones that didn't seem to be under anyones control.
Part of me wonders if the AI team gave Apple an ultimatum like, let us publish or we're gone.
Or maybe he just wanted to go and do something else ... lots of people jump ship before 5 years at each company nowadays, especially in the tech world where startups abound.
