Apple's 1987 Knowledge Navigator promised smarter humans; its new ad uses AI to check French toast
nptacek · x · 2026-10-14
A comparison of Apple's 1987 "Knowledge Navigator" concept film and its new HomeView ad is drawing criticism: the former imagined technology making us smarter, calmer, and more capable, while the new ad shows a dysfunctional family using AI for breakfast trivia — like checking whether French toast is actually French.
Austen: "This might be the first time I've ever watched an Apple ad that made me actively not want to buy the product."
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