Laurene Powell Jobs, Tim Cook, Jony Ive launch Steve Jobs Archive

Vox Media's Code 2022 conference has hosted a special panel paying tribute to the late Steve Jobs. Chaired by Kara Swisher, the discussion focused on what the three panelists think of Jobs's lasting impact, and was used to launch a new Steve Jobs Archive.

"Steve possessed a boundless sense of possibility and a belief in the power of individuals to make an enduring contribution to humanity," Laurene Powell Jobs. "My hope is that the Archive will be a place to draw inspiration from Steve's life and work, spurring new generations to make their own contributions to our common future."

At present, the archive consists of a series of quotes from Jobs, plus an email he wrote to himself. "Steve often sent himself messages to capture what was on his mind," says a caption next to the email, which is about his dependency on other people.

"I speak a language I did not invent or refine," the 2010 email says in part. "When I needed medical attention, I was helpless to help myself survive."

Asked by Swisher about how Jobs would see the current polarization of society, Powell Jobs said that he didn't believe he would have kept quiet about the issues.

"He loved the idea of America," she said. "He loved what it allowed the individual and the communities to become. He loved the unfetteredness of it. He loved the personal freedoms and liberties, but also the connectedness and responsibility for each other."

Tim Cook said Jobs would also be championing privacy — or rather, continuing to champion it."

"Steve really ingrained in the company in the early days the importance of privacy," said Cook, "and it has only grown with every year that has passed since then."I have every reason to believe that he would have put up a good arguments in good fights along the way.

Asked about Jobs's attention to small details, Jony Ive said that it was about caring.

"I think care is very often felt, and not necessarily seen," he said. "And I think, and I know it's something that I think the three of us feel strongly about that sort of care, that is, I mean Steve talks about the carpenter, the cabinet maker that would finish the back of the drawer, and it's that you're bothered beyond whether something is actually publicly seen."

Powell Jobs has spoken at Code before, discussing her trust's philanthropy in 2017. Many Apple executives have appeared, too, including Craig Federighi and Eddy Cue, who attended in 2014.

The session is Swisher's final one for the Code conference, and her first-ever interview was with Steve Jobs himself. Ahead of the panel, Swisher shared a previous video with highlights from Jobs's appearances at Code.

Other speakers at the Code conference, running September 6 to 8, 2022, include Amazon president and CEO Andy Jassy, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and California governor Gavin Newsom.