It has become a highly discussed topic after Apple’s legendary co-founder, Steve Wozniak, gave an interview to CNN on the occasion of the company’s 50th anniversary. During a segment of the conversation, he expressed a rather skeptical attitude toward the artificial intelligence technology that is currently trending worldwide. Wozniak frankly admitted that he barely uses AI at all, and the results from his test questions often leave him disappointed because the answers usually look good on the surface but miss the actual point he is trying to communicate.
The core issue Wozniak pointed out is the dryness of AI-generated content. He feels that it looks “too perfect,” lacking the charm and humanity he looks for. He mentioned that reading what AI writes often feels distant and devoid of genuine emotion. In his classic humorous style, he joked that if everyone wants to create a “brain” that truly understands the world, the absolute best method is the natural 9-month biological process, as it is the only way to create a human with a living mind and soul.
When pressed by the host on whether AI could eventually develop enough to replace humans in the future, Wozniak answered clearly that he does not see any signs that we understand the mechanics of the human brain well enough to reach that point. Current AI might be excellent at processing massive amounts of data, but it still cannot possess emotions, care for its surroundings, or harbor a desire to be a good person and help others—which are the fundamental qualities that define humanity.
One of the main reasons Wozniak believes AI has massive limitations is that it has never “lived like a human.” This prevents it from understanding the complexities and small nuances in daily communication or the real-life struggles humans face every day. For a machine to understand us the way another person does is incredibly difficult because it entirely lacks the social experience and emotional growth that form the foundation of empathy.
However, he did not completely shut down the possibilities of the future, acknowledging that in technology, nothing is truly impossible. Someday, it might become smarter and understand humans better than it does now. But at present, he still views it merely as a tool lacking a soul. This critique from a computer industry pioneer might prompt people to start questioning the direction of AI development, asking whether we should prioritize emotional intelligence alongside artificial intelligence.
Wozniak’s statements contrast sharply with the current hype surrounding global tech giants, including Apple itself, which is heavily accelerating its AI development to integrate into Siri and various devices throughout 2026. It remains to be seen how the perspective of one of Apple’s founding fathers will impact investor confidence or the trajectory of AI usage in the eyes of general consumers in the near future.
(Source: Gizmodo)
