GoKawiilPeter Thiel says Apple has innovated 'nothing new' since Steve Jobs's death
Speaking with Walter Isaacson on The Builders podcast, Peter Thiel argued Apple has produced no genuinely new innovations since Steve Jobs died in 2011, though he described the company as a 'pure, well-run value stock.' Thiel said the smartphone itself was the big invention, and Apple's work since has mainly been scaling and branding it.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Thiel's comments frame a broader argument he's making that unconventional, 'controversial' leaders like Jobs and Elon Musk benefit society more than steady operators like Tim Cook, suggesting he values disruptive risk-taking over managerial execution. The remarks come as Apple faces scrutiny over delayed AI features, which could lend some weight to claims that its recent era has been more about refinement than invention, though Cook's tenure also included major product launches like Apple Watch and Apple silicon.
- Thiel claims Apple hasn't truly innovated since Jobs died in 2011
- He contrasts eccentric CEOs like Jobs and Musk favorably against steady operators like Tim Cook
- Apple has faced criticism over delays to AI features and Siri upgrades during Cook's tenure
Apple iPhone 16 — Whatever one thinks of Apple's pace of innovation, the iPhone remains the product at the center of this whole debate, continually refined with better cameras, chips, and battery life. It's a great example of the 'scaling and polishing' Thiel describes, and still one of the most reliable smartphones you can buy today.
See Apple iPhone 16 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techspot.com — Rob Thubron, 2026-10-26
Published there as: “Peter Thiel slams Apple for doing "nothing new" since Steve Jobs died, praises controversial CEOs like Elon Musk”
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