Jimmy Iovine’s thesis: software companies struggle with consumer hardware because teams cannot collaborate

Jimmy Iovine argues that the main reason few software companies have built successful consumer electronics is that their technology and design teams cannot collaborate effectively. In his view, the problem is not simply a lack of founders or committee-driven management, but organizational silos and weak cross-disciplinary cooperation.

Apple is presented as the strongest example of a company that connected technology with the liberal arts, particularly through Steve Jobs’ cross-disciplinary approach. Iovine also recalls that about 300 people were brought from the creative business into Apple, while noting that even Apple remains somewhat siloed.

Meta’s hardware product made with Ray-Ban is described as “cool” and likely to perform adequately, but not necessarily as an outstanding success. Iovine’s broader assessment is that many technology companies envy hardware without knowing how to build it.