By Ayomide Otitoju
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak sharply criticized the increasing involvement of Big Tech companies in US politics, stating that tech moguls like Elon Musk have too much sway in public life. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday, Wozniak expressed concerns over the growing power of technology giants.
“Technology companies are huge, and as they grow larger, they inevitably get involved in politics,” Wozniak acknowledged. “But I don’t like them taking a direct role just because they’ve made it big in technology.”
Wozniak, who distanced himself from Silicon Valley after leaving Apple prior to its massive success under Steve Jobs, emphasized that while Big Tech companies have long engaged in lobbying, direct involvement in political matters is problematic.
He specifically singled out Musk, the CEO of X, Tesla, and SpaceX, noting that Musk’s political influence, particularly his ties to former President Donald Trump, raised concerns. “I think the skills needed for politics are very different from those required for tech companies to succeed. It doesn’t make sense to run a government like a business,” Wozniak said.
The tech entrepreneur also expressed frustration with Musk’s management style, arguing that successful political leadership requires negotiation and compromise, qualities he believes Musk lacks.
