Stratechery Attenuating Innovation (AI)
Nov 1, 2023
The podcast kicks off with a look at Microsoft's past struggles with mobile OS and antitrust issues, contrasting its design philosophy with Apple's. It transitions to the evolution from PCs to smartphones, showcasing how one company foresaw market demands while another faltered. The discussion continues with the merging of technologies and the urgency for effective AI regulation. Major tech firms' strategies around AI are scrutinized, alongside a critique of new regulations that may stifle innovation instead of promoting it, emphasizing the need for a positive outlook on AI advancements.
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Gates on Microsoft's Mobile Failure
- Bill Gates blamed Microsoft's failure in mobile on the antitrust lawsuit.
- He claimed it distracted them and caused them to be too late, costing billions.
Windows Mobile's Flawed Design
- Windows Mobile failed not because it was late, but because its design was flawed.
- It mirrored Windows PC interface, unsuited for mobile devices, unlike the revolutionary iPhone.
Gates' PC-Centric View
- Even after the iPhone launch, Gates still envisioned a PC-centric world with phones as mere satellites.
- He failed to recognize the phone's potential as a primary computing device.