For the obvious reason…
The reason for the shift? Stewart and Apple executives “had disagreements over some of the topics and guests,” the sources said. Specifically, they claimed Stewart told staffers that Apple execs took issue with planned programming related to both China and artificial intelligence, and noted that with the 2024 US election coming up, there might have been additional opportunities for disagreement then.
Apple does much of its business (both in production and sales) in China and has invested heavily in the country’s infrastructure. Regarding China, Apple execs may have been worried that Stewart’s planned commentary could alienate customers or partners in the country.
As for AI, Apple has increasingly focused on AI for software features on the iPhone. Primarily, it uses machine learning to drive things like search suggestions, photography, and palm detection. There have also been rumors that Apple plans to get into ChatGPT-like large language models, which have been more controversial.
Apple has no problem with their content. They play to the same people that mindlessly buy all of their products. They Got Stewart because he is a hot commodity and counter-culture, which is the brand they have built, however, it only runs skin deep. Stewart was a hip song over a monochromatic background that someone danced to, and just like those songs, Apple will find something else for the next season, and their diehards will be OK with it. Apple has no problem with their content. Stewart shouldn’t have signed with them in the first place.
Edit: there may have been some miscommunication on my part. I’m not saying that Stewart is only skin deep. He is a godsend to anyone with two braincells to rub together. Apple is only skin deep, and as soon as Stewart gave them a little carpet burn they jumped ship. However, Apple didn’t need him. They needed the idea of him. Now they can move on to other, more milquetoast, talking heads.
I’m not saying that Stewart is to blame for it. And you are right, Apple knew what they were getting when they signed him. They don’t give two squirts of shit about letting him go. They got what they wanted. The lukewarm hipster crowd had something to latch onto after Lasso, and they’ll have something again after this. Again, Apple has no problem with their content.
+1 Stewart should not have signed up with them. Maybe they originally gave him full creative control, and they took it back when he was hitting issues that could affect Apple’s bottom-line? In any case, I will continue to follow John Stewart, and canceling Apple+. There wasn’t much good on it anyways, and I will not support this type of censorship.
Better headline - The Problem with The Problem with Jon Stewart
