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Comment by GalenErso | Hacker News Reader

Apple's quarterly revenue is higher than Russia's annual defense expenditure. Let that sink in.

Now imagine if Apple wanted to use 1/3 of its net income to create a private military at the edge of technology.

I imagine their shareholders wouldn't be very happy about it. And not sure what the "edge of technology" part means. Do you think Apple will somehow do a better job than DARPA, Northop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Blackwater/Academi etc. at killing people?

Apple could just squash the unhappy shareholders with its private army. Kill two birds with one stone. My plan is foolproof.

Fear will keep the shareholders in line.

The more they tighten their grip, the more equity investors will slip through their fingers.

Tim Cook on Apple’s pivot to a private military company: "I am altering the deal. Pray I do not alter it any further."

The fact that more than 95% of iPhones, AirPods, Macs and iPads are made in China will keep Apple in line...

The scope for a darkly comic Jony Ive product video voiceover parody on that though

Apple care subscribers will have the option to send killer drones after stolen items with iTags.

None of those companies attempt to operate any autonomous military bodies, they are purely suppliers or contractors. They are ineffective in the sense that they are simply following orders yes.

I would say not, but not because shareholders. More like they wold not be able to have the same talent pool available as now.

Most of software devs wouldn’t like to work on military tech. Not saying there are no smart people at Lockheed or Raytheon but I would argue there is less smart people willing to work for this types of companies.

Even if devs hate ads most would rather work on ad-tech than mil-tech.

I suspect this has much more to do with compensation and security clearances than the aggregate morals of software engineers.

I believe Apple already has background checks and all kinds of red tape on par with weapon manufacturers.

For compensation I also believe that weapon manufacturers pay high salaries already as well.

So I might be wrong but from my point of view as software dev - Apple is not producing actual weapons to be the only difference.

Looking at the boondoggle of performance and reliability that is the F35, I'd be willing to let Apple take a crack at it.

The army would be used to make sure all USB-C factories are razed to the ground.

Were they underground before?

Thanks. Corrected. Having my own Human Spell Checker made me feel like a bit posh...

Ok but what if they use 1/3 of their net income to revive the iPod?

Bring back the Creative Zen Vision M you cowards!

I loved that thing.

Funny you say that, because thats exactly what Gazprom decided to do https://time.com/6254708/gazprom-private-military-wagner-gro... Big companies in russia are preparing for collapse of government.

Apple’s quarterly revenue is higher than literally every country’s annual military budget except US and China.

They'd lose most of their customers and it would become one of the most studied downfall of a consumer company for the next few decades ?

Money is just money, having a ton of it doesn't mean you can actually use it for what you want.

"And we think you're going to love it... or else!"

But approximately equal to the amount US sent Ukraine as “aid” in the 2022.

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