15 Years Later, Steve Jobs Continues to Transform the Tech World

Fifteen years after his passing on October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs, the co-founder and late CEO of Apple, remains strongly present in the memory of the technology industry, not only as one of its most prominent product creators, but also as the architect of a philosophy that left its mark on the concepts of innovation, design, and user experience.

Jobs died at the age of 56 after a battle with a rare neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas, spending his final years shuttling between treatment and leading Apple. His experience with illness and death formed a clear part of his worldview, which he articulated in his famous 2005 commencement address at Stanford University.

His last public appearance was on June 7, 2011, before the Cupertino City Council, where he presented plans for the company’s future headquarters, Apple Park. He resigned as CEO on August 24 of that same year, handing over leadership to Tim Cook.

Jobs left behind a legacy spanning from the Mac and iPod to the iPhone—products that reshaped entire markets and transformed the consumer relationship with technology.

Apple continues to honor his memory, while the Steve Jobs Archive, launched in 2022, preserves his ideas, speeches, and correspondence, transmitting his philosophy to new generations.

A decade and a half after his passing, Jobs’ influence remains palpable in an industry that still draws inspiration from his core idea: that true innovation does not merely create a new product, but changes the way people live.