Apple Executives Won't Be Appearing at This Year's WWDC Episode of The Talk Show Live

Since 2015, Daring Fireball's John Gruber has hosted a special live episode of his The Talk Show podcast from WWDC each year, with senior executives from Apple routinely participating as guests for the episodes. While the executives typically do not break major news during these appearances, the lively conversations have offered some interesting insights and perspectives on various topics surrounding Apple's WWDC announcements.

The Talk Show Live From WWDC 2024
In announcing ticket sales for this year's live episode going live today, Gruber has revealed that Apple declined his invitation for executives to appear on this year's episode, for the first time in the decade of this tradition.

Gruber did not share a reason for Apple declining this year's invitation, and Apple likely did not provide one to him, but it's easy to surmise that it was probably due to Gruber's recent comments sharing his belief that "Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino" in the wake of Apple Intelligence Siri delays.

In his March blog post, Gruber faulted himself for not seeing the "red flags" that were appearing as early as last year's WWDC, with Apple apparently showing off planned ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features that were not actually functional at the time and some of which may not even yet be functional.

He faulted Apple for showing off what amounted to vaporware at last year's WWDC, a significant departure from Apple's history over the past several decades of almost always shipping features close to their suggested timelines even when they have been pre-announced before they are fully ready.

Gruber's comments were notable given his status as one of the most well-known Apple pundits, not to mention the fact that Apple had chosen him to be the one to share the news days earlier that the Apple Intelligence-powered ‌Siri‌ revamp had been delayed.

It's hard not to view Apple's move as a form of retribution for Gruber's criticism, and also potentially an acknowledgement that Gruber would be liable to ask Apple executives some difficult questions about what occurred to force the ‌Siri‌ delay and where things go from here.

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Top Rated Comments

UltimateSyn Avatar
6 weeks ago
Aww, they couldn’t take a little constructive criticism.
Score: 92 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macbookey Avatar
6 weeks ago
No big deal. Gruber never asks the tough questions anyways, and makes it easy for canned responses and self congratulatory behaviour. I would take them to task for such poor and inconsistent software quality as well as poor leadership in several departments. Cash success aside, it is hard not to draw parallels to 80’s Xerox and the RIM of 2007.

Put John Siracusa on. Far more interesting and entertaining than any modern  exec, or just play a busy signal from a landline and it would be the same as having Tim Cook or Jeff Williams on.
Score: 70 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DiSTURBED-oNE Avatar
6 weeks ago

If I was Apple execs, I wouldn’t show either. What really can you say?
Admit they dropped the ball.
Explain to their customers what they are going to do about it?

Remember antennagate?
Steve came out, addressed everyone's concerns and offered roapmap to make it better and was available to answer any questions that were asked.
Score: 63 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cateye Avatar
6 weeks ago
But now where can I go to watch softball questions sandwiched between obsequious platitudes? Truly my WWDC media experience has been diminished.
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macmac30 Avatar
6 weeks ago
It's amazing how people's attitudes (even my attitude) has trended negative towards Apple over the least year. I poured my life savings into Apple in 2006 so I have every reason to love apple, but man, they are pissing me off lately. And it doesn't help that Siri (HomePod) asks me who I am several times per week, pauses music periodically, and is generally dumber than a brick!!! The fact that I have to say "Hello, you there?" half a dozen times when answering phone calls on my iPhone 16 Pro with my AirPods Pro 2 is pathetic (come on Apple, figure it out!)!
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TruthAboveAllElse Avatar
6 weeks ago

It's amazing how people's attitudes (even my attitude) has trended negative towards Apple over the least year. I poured my life savings into Apple in 2006 so I have every reason to love apple, but man, they are pissing me off lately. And it doesn't help that Siri (HomePod) asks me who I am several times per week, pauses music periodically, and is generally dumber than a brick!!! The fact that I have to say "Hello, you there?" half a dozen times when answering phone calls on my iPhone 16 Pro with my AirPods (come on Apple, figure it out!).
I think they call that disillusionment.

The reality distortion field has finally dissipated, and there is a real lack of passion behind that curtain now. Whereas before it was supported by real care and heart.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)