Why Twitter founder Jack Dorsey is not impressed with Apple Vision Pro – Times of India

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey appears not too pleased with Apple‘s mixed reality headset Vision Pro. During an interview with Saagar Enjeti and Krystal Ball on “Breaking Points,” Dorsey shared his concerns about a future society consumed by augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. He drew parallels to the dystopian setting portrayed in Pixar’s popular animated movie “WALL-E,” where humans are shown stationed in mobile, floating chairs — their bodies overweight and their eyes fixated on hovering screens before them.
Dorsey’s remarks reportedly come from his observations that these immersive technologies may possibly lead to social detachment among users. While emphasising about the need for a balanced approach, recognizing the gaming potential and user interface advancements offered by headsets like Vision Pro by Apple, he also expressed worry about the potential detachment and further distancing of individuals. “I think they have the propensity to be phenomenal for gaming. I think it’s an obvious user interface evolution,” Dorsey said, speaking about broader AR and VR advancements. But, he said, “I’m super-worried and concerned with how out-of-touch it might make people — and how it distances us even further.”
Dorsey also likened recent AR and VR developments to a few science-fiction examples, including the sci-fi novels “Snow Crash,” by Neal Stephenson, and author Ernest Cline’s “Ready Player One,” which was also made into a film.
“If you want to understand the future of any technology, just read science fiction,” said Dorsey, who is currently CEO of payment service Square. “They’re actually the roadmap writers.”
Skeptical about some of the benefits
During the discussion, Dorsey explored the interplay between progress in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) and the realm of science fiction literature. Drawing parallels between these literary masterpieces and the ongoing advancements in VR and AR technologies, Dorsey emphasized the invaluable role of speculative fiction in shaping the ambitions and aspirations of creators in bringing these transformative experiences closer to reality.
AR and VR “is going to happen,” Dorsey said. “I’m skeptical about some of the benefits, and I hope we have an honest conversation about some of the harms around more and more social distancing.”