When Steve Jobs was asked to shut up

When the first iPhone prototype was finally in Steve Jobs' hands, he did what he always did—used it like any other person would. He carried it around, shoved it into his jeans pocket, tossed it onto tables. A few weeks later, the device looked… worn. Scratches streaked across the screen, courtesy of coins and car keys.

For Jobs, this was unacceptable. The iPhone wasn't just a gadget—it was a masterpiece to behold. It should always look nice and shiny.

The iPhone got scratches because it was made entirely of plastic, just like the iPod. Without asking anyone or consulting his team, one day he declared: plastic is out, and glass is in.

The iPhone team was getting ready for the launch. This stubbornness on the part of Jobs threw a wrench into their plan.  The team got to work on it. Soon they realized that there is no such glass that would be scratch-proof, not heavy, and have a tactile touch sensor.

Job's friend introduced him to Corning Glass Company's CEO Wendell Weeks.  Jobs asked Wendell to come to Cupertino. Jobs described what he wanted. 

Wendell mentioned that his company had developed a special chemical exchange process in the 1960s that produces a type of glass called "gorilla glass". However, they couldn't find any real-world usage of that technology, so Corning stopped making it.

Jobs heard all this but he was not convinced that this "gorilla glass" will do the job. So he went on and on explaining to Wendell how glasses are made. Jobs is lecturing Wendell about glasses while Wendell is the CEO of a company that makes glasses.

After listening to Jobs for a while, Wendell stopped Jobs and said, "Can you shut up? Let me teach you some science". Jobs was startled. No one would dare talk to him like that. Jobs became silent.

Wendell used a whiteboard and explained to Jobs in excruciating detail the ion-exchange process that produces a special layer at the top of the glass. 

Jobs was impressed. He said he needs as much "Gorilla Glass" as he can produce in six months. Wendell quickly said, "They don't have that kind of capacity". They need to set up the whole manufacturing process, and six months is not enough time. Jobs stared at Wendell for a few seconds and calmly said, "Don't be afraid. You can do it. Get your mind around it. You can do it".

Wendell and his team got to work and delivered what was needed within six months. The day the iPhone came out, Jobs sent a very late night message to Wendell. It simply said, "We couldn't have done it without you".

That partnership didn't end there. Apple went on to invest heavily in Corning. Starting with the iPhone 8, Apple even wrapped the phone in glass front and back—glass being radio-frequency neutral, it enabled wireless charging and other innovations.

Today, Gorilla Glass dominates the market, with over 50% of smartphones using it. Besides Apple, giants like Samsung and Sony rely on Corning's creation.

Wendell received a great deal of praise over the years for the success of Gorilla Glass, but his most cherished accomplishment remains the text message from Steve Jobs.