During a recent appearance on “Good Morning America,” Apple CEO Tim Cook shared a surprisingly grounded perspective on the very technology that defined his company’s rise. Speaking with Michael Strahan, the 65-year-old leader marked Apple’s upcoming 50th anniversary by looking beyond the hardware, focusing instead on how the devices actually impact our daily lives.
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“I don’t want people using them too much,” Cook admitted during the interview. Even as Apple celebrates its golden anniversary and its influence on everything from school music programs to life-saving wearable tech, Cook remains wary of how smartphones can dominate a person’s attention.
The CEO emphasized that digital engagement should never replace human interaction. “I don’t want people looking at the smartphone more than they’re looking in someone’s eyes; as if they’re scrolling endlessly,” he explained. “This is not how you want to spend your day. Go out and spend it in nature.”
His concerns are backed by recent data. A study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry noted that while these devices are now “an integral part of life,” there is a clear downside to over-reliance. The authors warned that “excessive use of smartphones can cause not only physical discomfort but also feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.”
The conversation also shifted toward the future of technology, specifically the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence. Cook expressed optimism about the potential of AI, stating it “is so profound and can be so positive.”
However, he maintained that the morality of any tool depends on those behind it. “But you know, technology doesn’t want to be good, and it doesn’t want to be bad,” he continued. “It’s in the hands of the user and the hands of the inventor.”
