Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered the MIT Commencement Address to the graduating class of 2017 on Friday morning. His speech emphasised on the importance of merging elements of value and compassion with technology in order to avoid potential adverse consequences.
He started his speech by pointing out the similarities between Apple and MIT, and moved on to address several crucial concerns facing technology and its impact in the world.
“MIT and Apple share so much. We both love hard problems. We love the search for new ideas, and we especially love finding those ideas, the really big ones, the ones that can change the world,” he said.
He advised students to stay focused on what really matters and to not get caught up in the trivial aspects of life.
Don’t let that noise knock you off course. Don’t get caught up in the trivial aspects of life. Don’t listen to trolls and for God’s sake don’t become one.
Commenting on the journey of finding one’s purpose, he shared his experiences of early struggles from his life with the students.
Nothing worked. And it was really tearing me apart. Part of me kept pushing ahead to the next achievement. And the other part kept asking, ‘Is this all there is?’
He spoke about the contentious issues of surveillance and intrusion of privacy, and also laid down the importance of infusing technology with humanity.
The threats to security, threats to privacy, fake news, and social media that becomes antisocial. Sometimes the very technology that is meant to connect us, divides us.
Read the full transcript of Cook’s complete commencement address here.
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