VIDEO: Tim Cook talks privacy, Steve Jobs and more in Stanford 2019 commencement address

Tim Cook addressed graduates of Stanford University yesterday. Notably, Apple co-founder in addition to college dropout Steve Jobs delivered ane of the best showtime addresses I’ve heard so far 14 years ago, also at Stanford.

Here are the fundamental excerpts from Cook’s speech.

On privacy

Similar to his recent populace comments on privacy equally a human right, Cook reiterated that nosotros should halt listening to people who insist that nosotros must surrender privacy inwards guild to conk on using complimentary services or that ane tin claim credit without accepting responsibility. “We run into it everyday now, amongst every information breach, every privacy violation, every blind oculus turned to loathe vocalism communication in addition to faux word poisoning our national conversation,” the Apple CEO underscored.

If nosotros choose equally normal in addition to unavoidable that everything inwards our lives tin live aggregated, sold, or fifty-fifty leaked inwards the trial of a hack, so nosotros lose so much to a greater extent than than data.

We lose the liberty to live human.

Think nigh what’s at stake. Everything y'all write, everything y'all say, every topic of curiosity, every stray thought, every impulsive purchase, every minute of frustration or weakness, every gripe or complaint, every hush-hush shared inwards confidence.

In a basis without digital privacy, fifty-fifty if y'all stimulate got done nada incorrect other than intend differently, y'all get to censor yourself. Not exclusively at first. Just a little, chip past times bit. To lead a opportunity less, to promise less, to imagine less, to dare less, to create less, to seek less, to speak less, to intend less. The chilling consequence of digital surveillance is profound, in addition to it touches everything.

What a small, unimaginative basis nosotros would terminate upwards with. Not exclusively at first. Just a little, chip past times bit. Ironically, it’s the form of surroundings that would stimulate got stopped Silicon Valley earlier it had fifty-fifty gotten started.

We deserve better. You deserve better.

On beingness a builder

He encouraged students to live builders inwards their lives.

Whatever y'all produce amongst your life, live a builder. You don’t stimulate got to start from scratch to create something monumental.

And, conversely, the best founders, ones whose creations last, in addition to whose reputations grow rather than shrink amongst passing time, they pass most of their fourth dimension edifice slice past times piece. Builders are comfortable inwards the belief that ane hateful solar daytime their life’s travel volition live bigger than them. Bigger than whatever ane person. They’re mindful that their effects volition bridge generations. That’s non an accident, in addition to inwards a way, it’s the whole point.

On Steve Jobs

Cook initially refused to believe that Steve was terminally ill.

When Steve got sick, I had hardwired my thinking to belief that he would acquire better. I non simply idea he would concur on, I was convinced downward to my heart in addition to soul that he’d even so live guiding Apple long later I myself was gone.

Then ane hateful solar daytime he called me over to his identify in addition to told me that it wasn’t going to live that way. Even then, I was convinced he would remain on equally chairman. That he would footstep dorsum from the day-to-day, but ever live at that topographic point equally a sounding board. But at that topographic point was no argue to believe that. I never should stimulate got idea it. The facts were all there. And when he has gone, really gone, I learned the existent visceral departure betwixt grooming in addition to readiness. It was the loneliest I’ve ever felt inwards my life past times an guild of magnitude.

It was ane of those moments where y'all tin live surrounded past times people, yet y'all don’t actually see, hear, experience them. But I could feel their expectations. When the dust settled, all I knew was that I was going to stimulate got to live the best version of myself that I could be. I knew that if y'all got out of bed every forenoon in addition to laid your lookout adult man past times what other people hold off or demand, it’d motility y'all crazy. So what was truthful so is truthful now. Don’t waste materials your fourth dimension living someone else’s life. It takes also much mental effort; endeavour that should live dedicated to creating or building.

On life in addition to death

Cook said he never felt lonelier inwards his life than later beingness named Apple’s CEO presently earlier Jobs’s passing, proverb “your mentors may exit y'all prepared, but they can’t exit y'all ready.”

Graduates, the fact is, when your fourth dimension comes, in addition to it will, you’ll never live ready. But you’re non supposed to be. Find the promise inwards the unexpected. Find the courage inwards the challenge. Find your vision on the solitary road.

Don’t acquire distracted.

There are also many people who desire credit without responsibility Too many who demo upwards for the ribbon cutting without edifice anything worth a damn. Be different. Leave something worthy. And ever scream back that y'all can’t choose it amongst you.

You’re going to stimulate got to travel past times it on.

“That brings me to my terminal chip of advice,” he continued.

“Fourteen years ago, Steve stood on this phase in addition to told your predecessors, ‘your fourth dimension is limited, so don’t waste materials it living someone else’s life.’ Here’s my corollary: You mentors may exit y'all prepared, but they can’t exit y'all ready.”

Cook’s prior showtime addresses include Tulane University terminal month, his graduate alma mater Duke University terminal year, MIT inwards 2017, George Washington University inwards 2015 in addition to his undergraduate alma mater Auburn University inwards 2010.

How produce y'all similar Cook’s latest speech?

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