Jon Stewart had a conversation with Lina Khan, the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, on the recent episode of The Daily Show. During the interview, Stewart mentioned that Apple had restricted him from featuring Khan on his previous show, The Problem with Jon Stewart, which was terminated approximately six months ago.
Stewart expressed his frustration with Apple’s reluctance to engage in discussions about artificial intelligence, stating that they had explicitly requested him not to include Khan in a podcast. He questioned the reasons behind Apple’s apprehension in addressing such topics openly in the public domain.
In a separate segment of the episode, Stewart criticized the impact of artificial intelligence on job displacement, particularly emphasizing the false promises made by Big Tech companies regarding retraining opportunities for affected individuals. Drawing parallels to past industrial transitions, Stewart highlighted the skepticism surrounding the effectiveness of retraining programs in mitigating job losses.
The Problem with Jon Stewart was reportedly canceled last year, partly attributed to Stewart’s viewpoints on AI and China. Apple’s insistence on aligning Stewart’s views with their values was a point of contention for the veteran host.
Despite Apple’s silence on the cancellation of Stewart’s show, Khan raised concerns about the concentration of power in a few tech giants and its implications on decision-making processes. The conversation between Khan and Stewart delved into the monopolistic practices of major tech companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google, shedding light on the accountability issues associated with their algorithm-driven products.
Furthermore, Stewart criticized Apple and Microsoft for their acquisitions of numerous AI startups, restricting access to these technologies. Apple’s recent acquisitions of 32 AI startups in 2023, along with similar actions by Google, Microsoft, and Meta, have raised concerns about market competition and innovation.
Looking ahead, Apple is anticipated to make a significant AI-related announcement at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, potentially involving collaborations with Google and OpenAI to enhance Siri’s capabilities. However, amidst these developments, Apple is also facing a notable antitrust lawsuit from the Department of Justice, underscoring the regulatory challenges in the tech industry.
