The second day of the Talent Arena, held as part of MWC25, featured the prominent presence of Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and a key figure in the history of technology. His presentation, filled with sincerity and critical spirit, focused on the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), the need for its regulation, and the defense of open source as a driver of innovation.
AI, a challenge that must be managed with transparency and responsibility
Wozniak expressed his concern over the unstoppable rise of AI and warned about its potential risks if clear limits are not established:
“I am not against artificial intelligence, but I believe its use needs to be more honest,” he stated.
The engineer emphasized the importance of users understanding how AI models are trained and where their data comes from. In his opinion, only then can we objectively evaluate the information we consume. Moreover, he reminded the audience that current AI is “a great collector of past information,” and while it is useful, it has yet to think for itself.
AI, a tool for crime if not regulated
During his talk, Wozniak also warned about the growing use of AI by cybercriminals. The ability of these technologies to generate convincing texts and simulate human interactions multiplies the risk of phishing, ransomware, and identity theft.
“AI and chatbots are becoming weapons in the hands of criminals,” he declared.
In his view, AI can be a valuable ally, but if used uncontrolled, it can weaken humans’ critical capacity:
“I believe in the artificial part, but not in the intelligence part,” he joked, inviting attendees not to blindly trust the answers of virtual assistants.
The defense of open source as a pathway to technological improvement
True to his vision of transparent and collaborative technological development, Wozniak insisted on the importance of embracing open source:
“Technology should move towards open models. Only then can we review, correct, and improve what we create,” he assured.
This position stands in stark contrast to the current market trend, marked by closed services and subscription models. The Apple co-founder openly criticized this approach:
“Before, you bought something and it was yours. Now everything is subscription after subscription. We have lost control over what we own,” he lamented.
Political reflection and critique of corporate management applied to governments
In the final part of his talk, Wozniak also addressed international political issues, not shying away from criticizing U.S. political leadership and its tendency to manage governments as if they were private companies:
“Running a government is not like running a company. In a business, you negotiate, seek consensus, and share decisions. You cannot just fire everyone and start from scratch,” he pointed out, in a veiled reference to figures like Elon Musk and his managerial style in tech companies.
A message for the new generations of entrepreneurs
As a reference mentor, Wozniak encouraged the young people present at Talent Arena to follow their passion and seek what truly excites them:
“Your work will occupy a large part of your life. The only way to be satisfied is to do what you love. If you haven’t found it yet, keep searching. Don’t settle.”
A forum that looks to the future
Steve Wozniak’s participation in Talent Arena reaffirms the importance of this event as a meeting point for reflection on the present and future of technology. At a crucial moment for artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and innovation, his words resonated as a call for responsibility, transparency, and the defense of free software as pillars of technological progress.
Source: Noticias Inteligencia Artificial