How the CIA Saved Steve Jobs' Career After Apple

The Central Intelligence Agency played a surprising role in Steve Jobs' career during his exile from Apple, according to author Sharon Weinberger. After being pushed out of Apple in the 1980s, Jobs founded NeXT, a computer company that was struggling financially. The CIA helped keep NeXT afloat by purchasing its technology, providing crucial runway for Jobs to prove himself as an entrepreneur. Weinberger notes that these were 'beautiful, expensive computers that weren't selling,' and the CIA contract gave Jobs several years to stabilize the company. This segment delves into the untold story of the CIA's involvement with NeXT, based on Weinberger's research. It examines the broader relationship between the intelligence community and Silicon Valley, and how government contracts can shape the trajectory of tech startups.