iPhones 17 and the Sugar Water Trap

In this monologue podcast, Ben Thompson analyzes the iPhone 17 launch and the broader implications for Apple. While acknowledging the improvements in the new iPhone models, he notes the muted public reaction, attributing it to Apple's perceived lack of innovation in AI and a shift towards prioritizing profits over groundbreaking products. Thompson argues that Apple's decision to accept Google's payments for search default has led to a decline in its own knowledge and capabilities in data handling and AI, ultimately hindering its ability to compete in emerging technologies and potentially trapping it in a cycle of prioritizing profits over innovation, reminiscent of John Sculley's era.