Comic Jon Stewart has simply shared some very attention-grabbing data relating to the disputes he had with Apple throughout his tenure internet hosting the Apple TV+ present, The Drawback with Jon Stewart.

On Monday’s version of The Every day Present on Comedy Central, Jon Stewart – who returned to internet hosting this system after leaving Apple TV+ – interviewed FTC chair Lina Khan.

The sprawling interview with Khan coated quite a few points, however issues received attention-grabbing when the subject got here to AI. Stewart introduced up the AI “arms race” between firms like Apple, Google and Microsoft and the way these firms are competing to see who would grow to be “the monopoly.” 

Stewart all of the sudden pivoted.

“I’ve received to let you know, I needed to have you ever on a podcast,” Stewart mentioned to Khan. “And Apple requested us to not do it.”

“They actually mentioned, ‘Please do not discuss to her,'” Stewart continued earlier than segueing right into a joke about how he is positive it had nothing to do along with her job on the FTC.

Stewart went even additional by then including that Apple would not let his present on Apple TV+ cowl the subject of AI.

“They would not allow us to do even that dumb factor we simply did within the first act on AI,” Stewart added, referring to a comedy section earlier within the episode about AI. “What’s that sensitivity? Why are they so afraid to even have these conversations out within the public sphere?”

Khan did not reply these questions, focusing extra on how Stewart’s expertise showcases the hazard of getting just a few firms maintain a lot energy.

Why would Apple deny the FTC an invitation?

We, after all, haven’t got official phrase from Apple, however we’ve some concepts as to why the Cupertino-based tech big would not need Stewart giving Khan a platform on its streaming community.

Earlier than being nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed as FTC Chair in 2021, Khan was recognized for her work as an instructional and advocate to reign in Huge Tech. Khan even produced a 400-page report for Home Democrats detailing why Huge Tech firms like Apple must be regulated and damaged up.

One other potential motive? Apple was conscious of the present administration’s investigation into the corporate for antitrust violations again then. The usDepartment of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit in opposition to Apple over the iPhone simply final month.

Whereas particular particulars relating to Stewart and Apple’s relationship are new, it was reported when the comic walked away from his Apple TV+ deal final yr that content material disputes closely factored into the choice. The truth is, on the time, Stewart reportedly advised his workers that Apple executives particularly had an issue with episodes of the present that had been within the works on matters like China and AI.