Chinese developers have earned more selling apps on Apple`s iOS platform than devs from any other country, Apple CEO Tim Cook said on Sunday (via Bloomberg). His comments were made in a keynote speech given at China`s annual state-run World Internet Conference, which aims to develop the digital economy, while operating under the rubric of respecting the right of sovereign nations to regulate and control public internet access.
Cook said developers of its iOS platform number 1.8 million in China, collectively earning developers a total of $16.9 billion, which is roughly a quarter of total global App Store earnings. Apple said earlier this year that the global developer community has earned over $70 billion since the App Store launched in 2008.
Tim Cook delivers a speech at the Fourth World Internet Conference (Photo: IC)`The theme of this conference - developing a digital economy for openness and shared benefits - is a vision we at Apple share,` Cook said. `We are proud to have worked alongside many of our partners in China to help build a community that will join a common future in cyberspace.`China`s cyber regulation has stepped up in the last year, with new rules coming into force that require companies to store data locally and make data available for surveillance measures. Apple was the first foreign tech firm to announce amendments to its data storage arrangements in China, when the cybersecurity laws came into effect in June.
`Much has been said of the potential downsides of AI, but I don`t worry about machines thinking like humans. I worry about people thinking like machines,` he said. `We all have to work to infuse technology with humanity, with our values.`
Technology of the future should have openness, creativity and safeguards to protect users while providing privacy and decency, he added.Cook`s words appeared carefully chosen so as not to upset his Chinese hosts, who routinely curtail access to online services seen ...
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