Many prominent tech executives have shared their thoughts on the metaverse recently. Now we can add one of the biggest names to the pile: iPod creator Tony Fadell. In a wide-ranging interview with Wired to promote his new book, Fadell discussed his thoughts on the future of the tech industry. As is expected these days, he discussed his thoughts on the the current shiny object; the metaverse.
Fadell notably led the design team for the original iPod, and is also considered the co-creator of the iPhone. He then quit Apple and founded Nest, which he sold to Google for a cool $3 billion. Given his pedigree, Wired asked him why he was so skeptical of mixed reality. That’s technology that blends the real world with the digital world, usually via a head-mounted display or eyewear. Apparently Fadell has made disparaging comments about mixed reality in the past.
Tony Fadell brandishes a Nest thermostat. (CC BY 2.0 – Image by @kmeron on Flickr)
According to Fadell, there are legitimate uses for mixed reality. That includes Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) that are focused on a specific task. Though he didn’t mention Google, its language-translating glasses are a good example of that. Generally speaking, he thinks the metaverse is a solution in search of a problem. “I think the metaverse is wrong,” he told Wired. Describing one’s experience in a virtual world, he says the main issue is it’s not real. “I can’t look into your eyes, I can’t see your face, to build trust and a real personal connection.” He continues, “But there’s another reason I say f*ck the metaverse. We have scarce brains, scarce resources, and very scarce time to fix the climate crisis.” Pardell concludes all the time and effort spent on the metaverse is just a waste. “And all those smart brains and all that money is devoted to solving a problem we don’t have versus solving a problem we do. That’s utterly wrong.”
He expanded on his metaverse thoughts in an interview with Cnet. He pointed out there’s no reason to create a new social platform when the current ones are so imperfect. “I don’t want to hear about a new social hangout without hearing [about] the new content moderation that’s going to happen,” Fadell said. “And let’s fix the ones we have.”
Fadell’s comments echo those of other tech heavyweights. Nintendo’s former president Reggie Fils-Aimé has publicly stated he doesn’t think Meta’s version of this digital universe will be successful. He based this verdict on his opinion that Meta isn’t innovative enough to figure it out. He thinks it’s relied on other peoples’ ideas to be successful thus far. That includes its acquisitions of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. The “Father of the Playstation,” Ken Kutaragi, seems to be totally aligned with Fadell’s critique as well. “Being in the real world is very important, but the metaverse is about making quasi-real in the virtual world, and I can’t see the point of doing it,” he told Bloomberg. Apple is reportedly also not a fan of the metaverse. It’s upcoming wearable is rumored to not be “metaverse friendly.”
Mr. Fadell is currently promoting his new book: Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making.
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