Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has taken a swipe at Apple, suggesting that the tech giant has been resting on its laurels and hasn't invented anything significant in years. During a nearly three-hour podcast conversation with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg claimed that Apple has been "sitting on" its past success, specifically citing the iPhone, which was invented by Steve Jobs.

Zuckerberg's comments were sparked by Rogan's own grievances with Apple, including its App Store policies, which charge developers a 30% commission on transactions. Rogan expressed his dissatisfaction with being "attached to one company" and plans to switch to Android. Zuckerberg seized the opportunity to share his own opinions on the matter, stating that Apple's rules feel "arbitrary" and have stifled innovation.

Zuckerberg argued that Apple's closed ecosystem has hindered competition, particularly in the area of hardware. He cited the example of AirPods, suggesting that if Apple allowed other companies to use its protocol, there would be better competitors on the market. This, in turn, would lead to more innovation and better products for consumers.

It's worth noting that Zuckerberg's criticism of Apple is not entirely altruistic. Meta has had long-standing issues with Apple's App Store policies, which have resulted in significant revenue losses for the company. Zuckerberg estimated that if Apple's "random rules" didn't apply, Meta would make "twice as much profit or something" based on his "back of the envelope calculation."

Apple is currently facing pressure to open up its ecosystem, with the European Union implementing new laws targeting its policies and the US Department of Justice filing a lawsuit against the company for holding a monopoly over smartphones. Despite this, Apple seems intent on maintaining its closed ecosystem until it's forced to change.

Zuckerberg believes that Apple's reliance on "just advantaging their stuff" will ultimately hurt the company. He noted that the tech industry is "super dynamic," and if a company doesn't innovate for an extended period, it will eventually be surpassed by competitors.

In addition to his criticism of Apple, Zuckerberg discussed a range of other tech topics during the podcast, including AI, screen time, and neural interfaces. He envisions a future where physical and digital worlds blend together, with technologies like augmented reality glasses and neural interface wristbands enabling new forms of interaction.

Zuckerberg's vision for the future is one where the internet is "overlaid" on the physical world, allowing people to interact with virtual objects and each other in new and innovative ways. He believes that this convergence of physical and digital worlds will ultimately lead to a single, unified world.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment on Zuckerberg's remarks. The company's silence on the matter only adds to the ongoing tension between the two tech giants, with Zuckerberg's criticism serving as a reminder of the intense competition and innovation driving the tech industry forward.