Will AI Make Smartphones Obsolete? What This Means for Tech Investors and Entrepreneurs
Modern AI assistants, surpassing the limited capabilities of voice helpers like Siri, are set to become the central operating systems of our personal computing devices, experts predict. These intelligent assistants will transform how we interact with technology, potentially making traditional smartphone software secondary in importance.
Instead of navigating apps and interfaces, AI assistants will perform tasks autonomously—such as arranging plans with friends, compiling shopping lists, and taking notes during meetings—eliminating the need to swipe through menus or type on keyboards.
Alex Katouzian, a Qualcomm executive responsible for mobile products, explained, “The operating system you’re used to on a phone and the apps you launch will start to fade into the background, as your assistant begins doing things for you.”
Looking ahead, new personal computing devices might emerge to complement, or even supersede, current smartphones. AI-powered wearables like smart glasses or bracelets, aware of users’ environments, are anticipated to provide continuous assistance throughout the day.
The tech industry’s leading companies—including Apple, Google, Samsung, Amazon, and Meta—are actively exploring the next evolution beyond smartphones. Their forecasts include:
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Smart Glasses
Mark Zuckerberg describes smart glasses that "understand our context because they can see what we see, hear what we hear, and interact with us throughout the day" as the future primary computing devices. Meta has advanced this vision by integrating its AI assistant into Ray-Ban Meta glasses, enabling users to ask questions about their surroundings. Meta also introduced Orion, a prototype featuring embedded screens for glanceable digital notes during conversations. Google has similarly unveiled AI-powered glasses prototypes. -
The Ambient Computer
Amazon’s Panos Panay highlighted the power of ambient computing, where AI assistants operate through devices like microphone-equipped speakers, screens throughout the home, and wearable gadgets. This approach reduces reliance on smartphones and their distracting notifications, promoting seamless, hands-free interaction. Amazon’s Echo line exemplifies this category. -
The Smartwatch Reimagined
Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, envisions a future smartwatch equipped with a camera for video calls, worn unobtrusively on the wrist. Pei believes that as AI develops, a wrist-worn device constantly gathering environmental data will become vital, replacing the smartphone as the main AI interface. - The Recorder
Dan Siroker, CEO of AI startup Limitless AI, emphasizes wearable recorders that enhance memory by recording conversations and generating transcripts. Given human memory’s unreliability, such devices paired with AI coaches could significantly boost productivity and effectiveness at work and home. Limitless AI’s pendant-style recorder exemplifies this innovation.
These emerging devices reflect a vision similar to that of Bob Ryskamp, a Google Glass designer, who foresaw users wearing multiple stylish, smart accessories—a “symphony of AI”—each favored for its aesthetics and intelligence.
As technology progresses, AI assistants embedded in diverse wearables promise to redefine personal computing by integrating effortlessly into daily life.
— Source: The New York Times
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The transition from smartphones to AI-driven ambient computers and wearable devices like smart glasses and reimagined smartwatches represents a paradigm shift in personal technology that Omani businesses must recognize. For investors and entrepreneurs, this emerging AI ecosystem offers a prime opportunity to innovate in hardware, software, and AI services tailored for everyday convenience and productivity. Smart players should focus on integrating AI solutions that enhance user experience and capitalize on growing demand for seamless, context-aware computing in Oman’s evolving digital landscape.
