Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

Apple CEO Tim Cook talked with Malala about coding, education, the pandemic

Tim Cook and Malala

Last updated

As part of a video conversation series, Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke with Malala Yousafzai about life during the pandemic and what's next.

The conversation ranged from how Tim Cook and Malala first met to their love of Apple TV+ show "Ted Lasso." Hosted by British Vogue, the "In Conversation" series brings various people together to discuss the world and events around them.

Malala reiterated that Apple is one of the biggest participants in the Malala Fund, providing education and tools to girls in underfunded communities. The world has changed drastically since the Malala Fund started, and many girls have been removed from school to help at home — a challenge for the fund.

Technology helps equalize education, especially for those removed from school during the pandemic. Malala hopes to help the 130 million girls removed from school continue their education despite the challenges.

While staying home and social distancing, Malala says she began learning to code. Staff at Apple have been helping with her learning.

"Everyone should learn to code," says Tim Cook. "Its the only global language, and I've always felt it was the most important of the second languages."

The conversation moved to racial equity and injustice. Tim Cook tells a story about a man from Alabama who attends a developer program and learns to code. In less than a year, he goes from being a furniture delivery guy to being a software engineer at a startup.

Malala asks why privacy should be important to young people. He responds that in a world where "people are tracked throughout their day," that "people will explore less, they will communicate less, their freedom of expression begins to narrow." The worry of being tracked everywhere will force people to stop exploring and stop creating.

Cook says that Apple wants to give people tools to stop the tracking and will give users "more of those in a few weeks." The idea of user privacy goes back to Steve Jobs, who was keen on the issue.

They both agree that "Ted Lasso" is their favorite show on Apple TV+. Malala wants to create content that can be emotionally moving and funny, just like the show.

Those interested in the full interview can see it on YouTube. The thirty-minute discussion covers many topics surrounding Apple and activism.

Apple has partnered with the Malala Fund over the years to help support girls' education and equal opportunity. More recently, Malala herself joined Apple TV+ in a multi-year programming deal to produce content.

Follow all of WWDC 2021 with comprehensive AppleInsider coverage of the week-long event from June 7 through June 11, including details on new launches and updates.

Stay on top of all Apple news right from your HomePod. Say, "Hey, Siri, play AppleInsider," and you'll get the latest AppleInsider Podcast. Or ask your HomePod mini for "AppleInsider Daily" instead and you'll hear a fast update direct from our news team. And, if you're interested in Apple-centric home automation, say "Hey, Siri, play HomeKit Insider," and you'll be listening to our newest specialized podcast in moments.



4 Comments

22july2013 11 Years · 3736 comments

I feel a little guilty for being ready to post a joke making light of something I see in the photo. She's a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, so maybe she's exempt from a little light humour. 

lkrupp 19 Years · 10521 comments

I wonder what Malala thinks of the coming withdrawal of the U.S. military from Afghanistan. As sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west the Taliban will overrun the Afghan government within in days, just like what happened in Vietnam. Afghans who supported, worked for, or translated for the U.S. will be summarily slaughtered along with their families. Females will be instantly thrown back to the stone age as chattel unworthy of education. Radical Islam will be the only authority.

What does Malala think?

wizard69 21 Years · 13358 comments

I feel a little guilty for being ready to post a joke making light of something I see in the photo. She's a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, so maybe she's exempt from a little light humour. 

Go ahead!   I'm tired of people that can't take light jokes.   Vulgar is another thing and I really don't see Appleinsider as a place for that.

As for the Nobel, I really don't think she deserved it.   It seems like to me the committee wanted to make a statement and just grabbed a handy person to front for that statement.

22july2013 11 Years · 3736 comments

wizard69 said:
I feel a little guilty for being ready to post a joke making light of something I see in the photo. She's a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, so maybe she's exempt from a little light humour. 
Go ahead!   I'm tired of people that can't take light jokes.   

Okay. When I first looked at the picture, I actually thought for a moment that Tim Cook was standing with Piff the Magic Dragon, because her colours and the overall style of her outfit is indexical to Piff's. I found an image of Piff online and inserted it into the photo above. See the similarity in colours and clothing? I hope you defend me when people start attacking me for being immoral or something. It's really just a comment about her choice of colours.