Tim Cook echoes Steve Jobs in Duke University commencement speech

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was responsible today to address his alma mater’s graduates of this year in Duke University, where he encouraged students to make brave choices so they can overcome challenges and this way beak with conventional wisdom. However, Cook touched on the subject of data privacy when he asked of graduates to give this a good and strong thought, as he rejected the lack of privacy in technology.

Cook echoed Apple’s former boss Steve Jobs, as he told students that the right way to go around a problem is to ask “what should we do” instead of “what can we do.”  “Because Steve taught us that’s how change happens, and from him, I learned to never be content with the way that things are,” Cook said as he carried on about the monetization of user information.

This comment echoed with this year’s Facebook data controversy, which Cook heavily criticized after it was revealed that political data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica was able to breach into the data and information of nearly 90 million Facebook users.

This led Cook to call upon graduates to increase social media regulations and to question Facebook among others on whether user data should be monetized. Apple’s CEO also went back to one of JFK’s most known morals as he stated that regardless of each individuals passion and the paths they take in life they should all Aspire to leave this world better than what they found it.

Cook told graduates the importance of his time with his mentor, Steve Jobs by explaining them a correct line off thought to achieve greatness, according to Cook the restless refusal of accepting the status quo and its standards its Apple’s main drive, making the company one of the most particular, biggest and most importantly influential of these days.

“I’ve learned that the greatest challenge of life is knowing when to break with conventional wisdom. Don’t just accept the world you inherit today. Don’t just accept the status quo. No big challenge has ever been solved, and no lasting improvement has ever been achieved unless people dare to try something different. Dare to think different.” said Cook to the graduates.

To prove a point, Cook gave the example of global warming as seen by many as an inevitable thing, but he did point out that in Apple things run on 100 percent renewable energy.

He also pointed out as a notable fact that the company rejects “the excuse that getting the most out of technology means trading away your right to privacy. So we choose a different path: collecting as little of your data as possible, and being thoughtful and respectful when it’s in our care.”

Source: CNN