--- title: "Apple Reportedly Ditched Jon Stewart Because They Didn’t Like His Thoughts About AI" description: "Apple executives gave John Stewart an ultimatum: cede creative control, give up those issues, or \"The Problem\" gets cancelled." date: "2023-10-22" modified: "2023-10-22" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/apple-jon-stewart-show-ai" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "apple" - "generative ai" - "the digest" --- # Apple Reportedly Ditched Jon Stewart Because They Didn’t Like His Thoughts About AI ![Apple executives gave John Stewart an ultimatum: cede creative control, give up those issues, or "The Problem" gets cancelled.]() *\Image: Jamie McCarthy via Getty / Futurism\* ## Forbidden Fruit Comedian and political commentator Jon Stewart is now out of a job. On Thursday, the former "Daily Show" host told his staff that he was leaving his series on Apple TV, "The Problem With Jon Stewart," just as its third season was set to begin filming in a few weeks. The reasons behind the departure are eyebrow-raising, to say the least. *The New York Times* [reports that]() several topics Stewart wanted to cover "caused concern" with company executives: apparently Apple *really* didn't want him sounding off on China and artificial intelligence. As of now, it's unclear what exactly Stewart would have had to say on either issue, but given the nature of the show, it's safe to assume it probably would've been critical. Per a followup [report from *The Hollywood Reporter*](), Apple insisted that both parties needed to be "aligned" on certain topics on the show. Stewart, though, wasn't game for being "hamstrung" by his employers, even when they threatened to cancel "The Problem." Beyond any single topic, Stewart reportedly wanted to exert full creative control, and rather than giving that up, he chose to walk away before Apple could be the ones to get the final say. With its star gone, Apple decided to "unrenew" the series. ## Hot Topic China, of course, has long been a hot-button issue. But if these latest reports are any indication, AI models are becoming a near equally controversial topic — at least for a brand that tries to maintain a neutral and squeaky-clean image. Plus, Apple, as a Silicon Valley giant, has its own AI aspirations. It's [been fastidiously working on its rival to ChatGPT](), though its entire development has been kept under tight wraps. As far as AI models go, Apple still has some serious catching up to do. But pursuing that tech comes at a cost. Gangbusters chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT, while receiving ludicrous amounts of investment and hype, are also under fire for perceived copyright and privacy violations, never quite shaking off the perception that they operate by stealing artists' work. Clearly, Apple would have a vested interest in not having the tech maligned on its own platform. **More on AI:** [*That AI You're Using Was Trained By Slave Labor, Basically*]() ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()