Apple is expected to launch a new, thinner, and smoother iPhone. However, Google, Samsung, Amazon and Meta are pursuing a completely different prospect as smartphones, devices that have been around for more than a decade, may gradually become outdated by the power of AI.
According to experts, the modern generation of AI assistants has far surpassed old voice tools such as Siri. Instead of just accepting simple orders, AI can now become the central operating system of all personal devices, replacing us with managing appointments, writing notes, shopping or planning. At that time, having to squeeze through the screen or open each application will gradually lose its meaning.
Mr. Alex Katouzian, leader of mobile products at Qualcomm, commented: "The operating systems and applications you often use will gradually disappear, giving up AI assistants to perform all tasks on your behalf."
The future of smartphones
Smart glasses: Mark Zuckerberg once affirmed in a letter to Meta staff that glasses have the potential to become primary computing devices because they can see, hear and accompany us all day.
Meta has commercialized the Meta Panel with cameras, microphones and AI assistants. Meanwhile, the Orion prototype with an integrated screen on the glass case also promises many breakthroughs, although still facing challenges in battery and design. Google is also entering this race with a protest glasses model using Gemini AI assistant.
The Ambient Computer: Is a technology concept that describes a computer system hidden in human space. Instead of users having to actively open their phones, tap keyboards or turn on the screen, computing devices and artificial intelligence will automatically appear, listen, observe and support according to context.
Panos Panay, Director of Amazon Equipment, believes that AI devices placed around humans, from smart speakers to indoor screens, will become increasingly important.
Users can ask questions at dinner, let the AI assistant answer without taking their eyes off the conversation. According to Mr. Panos Panay, smartphones will not disappear immediately, but their influence will certainly gradually decrease.
The Smartwatch Reimagined: A technology concept that refers to the new generation of smartwatches, far surpassing the current role of the Apple Watch or health monitoring wearables.
Carl Pei, CEO of nothing, once thought that the phone was still the main device. But now he believes that smartwatches that are familiar to hundreds of millions of people are potential candidates.
Mr. Pei imagined a watch with an opened camera right on the wrist, supporting video calling, and collecting environmental data for AI to operate more effectively.
Smartphones still have land
Although the prospect of replacing smartphones is a source of curiosity, experts agree that this device will not disappear immediately. Just like a laptop that still exists in parallel with a phone, a smartphone can continue to accompany users for many more years.
However, the rise of AI has kicked off a new race in the technology industry. The question is no longer whether to replace it or not, but which device will inherit the central position of smartphones in digital life.
