Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has sharply criticized the increasing involvement of Big Tech figures in U.S. politics, particularly targeting Elon Musk’s significant influence. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday, Wozniak expressed concern about how tech giants are dominating not only the technology sector but also the political landscape.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“Technology companies are huge, and as they’re huge and worth that much money, they have to have some political involvement,” Wozniak acknowledged, pointing to the long history of lobbying by major firms. However, he took issue with these companies, especially figures like Musk, taking a more direct role in political affairs. “I don’t like that at all,” he stated, highlighting that these figures’ political influence could be detrimental.
Wozniak, who stepped away from Apple before the company reached its current global success, emphasized his belief that technology and politics require different skill sets. Reflecting on the differences between running a business and governing, he said, “It doesn’t make sense to run a government like a business.” In particular, Wozniak criticized Musk’s approach to governance, especially through his involvement in government efficiency initiatives under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and his broader political influence, which has been closely aligned with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“There’s a need for consensus, negotiation, and compromise when running a business, but I don’t see that happening with Elon Musk,” Wozniak said. He further added that, in Musk’s case, he tends to advocate for starting fresh and making sweeping changes, a method that Wozniak believes doesn’t work well for governance.
Wozniak’s comments add to the growing conversation about the outsized political influence of tech moguls, raising questions about the balance between their business interests and the broader political implications of their actions.
