teve Wozniak Criticizes Tesla’s UI and Elon Musk’s Leadership: A Deep Dive

Steve Wozniak, the legendary co-founder of Apple, has long been known for his pioneering work in creating intuitive and user-friendly technology. His contributions to the personal computing revolution alongside Steve Jobs set the standard for what a seamless and effective user interface should be. However, in a recent interview with CNBC at a major tech conference in Barcelona, Wozniak turned his attention to Tesla, offering a scathing critique of the company’s evolving user interface (UI), customer service, and the leadership style of its CEO, Elon Musk.

Tesla has positioned itself as a leader in electric vehicle (EV) innovation, using software-driven approaches to enhance functionality. Yet, Wozniak’s remarks reveal a growing concern among Tesla owners and tech enthusiasts about the company’s direction. His critique encompasses Tesla’s UI shortcomings, customer service issues, and Musk’s influence, sparking broader discussions on the role of technology in daily life and leadership in the tech industry.

Tesla’s User Interface: A Declining Experience

Wozniak’s Experience as a Tesla Owner

As an early adopter of Tesla vehicles, Wozniak has firsthand experience with the brand’s evolution. He has owned multiple Tesla models over the years, yet his discontent has grown with each iteration of Tesla’s software updates. During his CNBC interview, he did not mince words, calling Tesla’s UI “the worst in the world.”

“Every step up, where they changed things in the car, it got worse and worse and worse, and now it is just miserable for user interface.”

This statement underscores a sentiment shared by many Tesla owners. While the company has been lauded for its cutting-edge technology, some feel that its UI updates have introduced more complexity rather than improving usability.

The Shift from Physical Controls to Touchscreen Dominance

Tesla’s vehicles heavily rely on touchscreens, replacing traditional buttons and physical controls with software-based features. While this approach allows for over-the-air updates and feature enhancements, it also introduces potential usability challenges. Wozniak expressed frustration with the increasing difficulty of performing simple tasks, pointing out that many essential controls are buried within menus rather than being easily accessible.

Several common complaints among Tesla owners align with Wozniak’s critique:

• Difficulty in locating essential features – Functions such as adjusting climate controls, opening the glovebox, or engaging turn signals are less intuitive than in traditional vehicles.
• Frequent UI changes – Tesla’s software updates often alter the interface, requiring users to re-learn how to navigate their vehicles.
• Touchscreen reliance while driving – Critics argue that forcing drivers to use a touchscreen for basic operations can be distracting and potentially hazardous.

Wozniak’s critique suggests that Tesla may have prioritized technological innovation at the cost of user experience, an approach that contradicts the philosophy Apple embraced under his and Jobs’ leadership.

Tesla Service Woes: ‘I’m Just Sick of That Company’

Beyond the UI frustrations, Wozniak took aim at Tesla’s customer service, sharing his long-standing struggles to get issues resolved.

“I go down to the Tesla Service Center for seven years, the Tesla Service Center—‘Here’s this problem, look at it. Here, I’ll demonstrate it, I’ll make it work. Somebody should pass the word up so Tesla engineers know what to do.’ And he said, ‘Tesla doesn’t talk to us’—at a Tesla Service Center. And I’m just sick of that company, the support is so ridiculous.”

This statement highlights a significant pain point among Tesla owners—poor communication and lack of responsiveness from Tesla’s service network. Unlike traditional car manufacturers, Tesla operates a direct-to-consumer service model, which has led to complaints about long wait times, poor issue resolution, and difficulty in obtaining replacement parts.

Controversial Design Decisions: The Steering Yoke

Another point of contention Wozniak mentioned was Tesla’s decision to replace the conventional steering wheel with a steering yoke in some of its newer models. He recalled an incident in which his wife was pulled over by the police for failing to signal a turn—simply because she couldn’t easily locate the turn signal.

“She got pulled over because she couldn’t figure out where the turn signal was, and she couldn’t find the glovebox release either.”

This anecdote encapsulates the broader frustration with Tesla’s design choices. While the company prides itself on innovation, some of its decisions have been criticized for prioritizing aesthetics over functionality.

Elon Musk and the ‘Politics of Bullying’

Wozniak’s Take on Musk’s Leadership Style

Tesla’s user experience and service issues are only part of Wozniak’s broader concerns. He also took issue with Elon Musk’s leadership style, criticizing what he sees as an authoritarian and domineering approach.

“Elon Musk, I don’t know what got into his head. Sometimes you get so rich at these big companies, and you’re on top—all that goes to your head, and you’re the most credible person in the world and the brightest and you’re going to dictate what others will do.”

Wozniak compared Musk’s behavior to that of a school bully, stating that individuals in power often impose their will without considering the perspectives of others.

“If you’re in school, the bully’s gonna force their way on the little guy. […] I’ve always favored the little guy over the big guy, and I’ve always favored the consumer of a good over the producer.”

This statement suggests that Wozniak views Musk’s leadership as self-serving rather than consumer-centric, a stark contrast to Apple’s historical focus on intuitive, user-friendly technology.

Political Influence and Controversial Stances

Wozniak also touched on Musk’s political influence, particularly regarding his stance on Ukraine and other geopolitical matters. He expressed concern about Musk’s relationship with figures like Donald Trump and the broader shift towards absolutist political rhetoric.

“We’re going to the extreme right, and we’re going absolutism and it’s not a two-way conversation. It’s one-way—‘we’re powerful, we’ve got the cards.’”

This critique aligns with growing concerns about the unchecked influence of tech moguls in political discourse and decision-making.

Wozniak’s Final Take on Musk’s Governance Approach

While Wozniak acknowledged that reforming government inefficiencies is necessary, he argued that such efforts should be executed with precision rather than brute force.

“You do it with a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer.”

His comments reflect broader debates about how influential figures like Musk should wield their power. While Musk’s vision and ambition have propelled Tesla and SpaceX to remarkable heights, his approach has also drawn criticism for its unpredictability and unilateral decision-making.