{"id":7354,"date":"2025-12-19T15:42:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T11:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/news\/economy\/calculators-still-win-against-ai\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T02:27:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T22:27:27","slug":"calculators-still-win-against-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/news\/economy\/calculators-still-win-against-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Calculators Still Matter in Business: Understanding Their Resilience Amid AI Advancements"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(14px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-slideup{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(20px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-pulse{0%,100%{box-shadow:0 0 14px #dc262688}50%{box-shadow:0 0 32px #dc2626,0 0 60px #dc262655}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-shimmer{0%,100%{opacity:0.3;transform:scaleX(0.4)}50%{opacity:1;transform:scaleX(1)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-glow{0%,100%{opacity:0.6}50%{opacity:1}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-badge{from{opacity:0;transform:scale(0.8)}to{opacity:1;transform:scale(1)}}\r\n<\/style><style>\r\n.hitv3sogw{container-type:inline-size;width:100%;max-width:970px;margin:0 auto;box-sizing:border-box}\r\n.hitv3soga{display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;text-decoration:none;color:#fff;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,system-ui,sans-serif;position:relative;overflow:hidden;cursor:pointer;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#111118 0%,#080808 100%);border:1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.08);border-radius:14px;gap:20px;padding:20px 40px;transition:border-color .2s}\r\n.hitv3soga:hover{border-color:#dc262688}\r\n.hitv3sogg1{position:absolute;inset:0;background:radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 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0;white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis}\r\n.hitv3sogs{font-size:13px;color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);line-height:1.4;margin-top:3px;white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis}\r\n.hitv3sogbl{display:none;flex-direction:column;gap:5px;margin-top:9px;align-self:flex-start}\r\n.hitv3sogbi{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:11px;color:rgba(255,255,255,.55);font-weight:500}\r\n.hitv3sogct{position:relative;z-index:1;flex-shrink:0;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center}\r\n.hitv3sogbtn{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;padding:10px 24px;background:#dc2626;background-image:linear-gradient(180deg,rgba(255,255,255,.12) 0%,transparent 100%);color:#fff;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;border-radius:8px;white-space:nowrap;box-shadow:0 0 20px #dc262666;border:none;cursor:pointer;font-family:inherit;transition:filter .15s,transform .15s}\r\n.hitv3sogbtn:hover{filter:brightness(1.15);transform:scale(1.04)}\r\n.hitv3sogbr{font-size:9px;color:rgba(255,255,255,.18);text-align:center;margin-top:5px;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase}\r\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Compact horizontal: 380\u2013599px (like 320\u00d7100) \u2500\u2500 *\/\r\n@container (min-width:380px) and (max-width:599px){\r\n  .hitv3soga{padding:12px 22px;gap:12px;min-height:100px}\r\n  .hitv3sogh{font-size:16px}\r\n  .hitv3sogs{display:none}\r\n  .hitv3sogbtn{padding:7px 16px;font-size:11px}\r\n}\r\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Mobile\/card: < 380px (like 300\u00d7250) \u2500\u2500 *\/\r\n@container (max-width:379px){\r\n  .hitv3soga{flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;min-height:260px;padding:22px 22px;gap:10px}\r\n  .hitv3sogc{align-items:center;text-align:center}\r\n  .hitv3sogh{font-size:22px;white-space:normal}\r\n  .hitv3sogs{font-size:11px;white-space:normal}\r\n  .hitv3sogbl{display:flex;align-self:center;text-align:left}\r\n  .hitv3sogbtn{width:100%;justify-content:center;padding:12px 20px}\r\n}\r\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Wide: >= 600px (leaderboard style) \u2500\u2500 *\/\r\n@container (min-width:600px){\r\n  .hitv3soga{min-height:90px}\r\n}\r\n<\/style><!-- HiT Land Banner \u2014 Container Query Responsive -->\r\n<div class=\"hitv3sogw\">\r\n<a class=\"hitv3soga\" href=\"https:\/\/hit.land\/services\/web-app-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-fadein 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0s;\">\r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogg1\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-glow 3s ease-in-out infinite;\"><\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogg2\"><\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"hitv3soggl\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-shimmer 3s ease-in-out infinite;\"><\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogc\">\r\n    \r\n    <div style=\"display:inline-flex;align-self:flex-start;align-items:center;gap:6px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.08);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-radius:20px;padding:3px 10px 3px 7px;margin-bottom:clamp(5px,0.6vw,9px);animation:hitv3sog-badge 0.5s ease both;\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:6px;height:6px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size:clamp(8px,0.9vw,10px);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.07em;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);text-transform:uppercase;white-space:nowrap;\">EXCLUSIVE OMAN OFFER<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogh\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.15s;\">Websites For <span style=\"color:#dc2626;\">Omani Businesses.<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogs\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.3s;\">Empower your brand with custom digital solutions designed for high conversion and market dominance.<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogbl\"><div class=\"hitv3sogbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Responsive designs built for growth<\/span><\/div><div class=\"hitv3sogbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Fast loading with smart automation<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogct\">\r\n    <button class=\"hitv3sogbtn\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-pulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;animation-delay:1s;\">Build Your Free Website <span style=\"opacity:.9;\">\u2192<\/span><\/button>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogbr\">hit.land<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>TOKYO \u2013 Despite the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, pocket calculators remain unmatched in reliability, consistently providing accurate results without error. This dependable performance continues to drive millions of sales annually for Japan\u2019s Casio, which is now exploring opportunities for expansion in select regions.<\/p>\n<p>While AI chatbots occasionally falter on basic arithmetic, Casio executive Tomoaki Sato emphasized that <strong>calculators &quot;always give the correct answer.&quot;<\/strong> However, he acknowledged the possibility that calculators could eventually become obsolete, much like the abacus.<\/p>\n<p>Sato noted in Tokyo that personal calculators used for business purposes are experiencing a decline in demand. Smartphones and internet browsers can now handle everyday calculations, and AI models recently achieved gold-level scores at a prestigious global mathematics competition for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>Yet calculators maintain an advantage in affordability and power options, operating on batteries and solar energy\u2014features that appeal particularly to schools in developing countries, a key target market for Casio&#8217;s growth.<\/p>\n<p>Consumers also appreciate the tactile experience of calculators. Thitinan Suntisubpool, a shop co-owner in Bangkok\u2019s Chinatown, praised the durability and convenience of her large calculator, which she uses to input numbers visibly for customers, helping to overcome language barriers.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, another local vendor, Da, reported quiet sales for calculators at her street stall.<\/p>\n<p>At Casio\u2019s factory in Thailand\u2019s Nakhon Ratchasima province, workers assemble calculators by fitting circuit boards and buttons into pastel-colored frames. Ryohei Saito, a Casio general manager in Thailand, affirmed that calculators remain in demand, especially in areas lacking widespread smartphone connectivity. He described calculators as \u201coptimized tools focused on necessary functions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Casio sold 39 million general and scientific calculators worldwide in the year up to March 2025. This figure is slightly lower than the 45 million sold in 2019-20 but represents a rebound from 31 million sold during the post-Covid downturn.<\/p>\n<p>Casio\u2019s journey began with the groundbreaking 1957 invention of the compact desk-sized &quot;14-A&quot; calculator, hailed as the first all-electric calculator of its size.<\/p>\n<p>Calculator innovation even recently made headlines when Christie&#8217;s auction house halted the sale of an early calculating machine, &quot;La Pascaline&quot; (circa 1642), after a court ruling prevented its export. The ebony-decorated device has been described as history\u2019s first mechanical attempt to replace human calculation.<\/p>\n<p>As AI continues to evolve, it marked a milestone in July when models from Google, OpenAI, and DeepSeek earned gold-level scores at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). However, unlike five human participants who achieved perfect scores, none of the AI models reached full marks.<\/p>\n<p>IMO president Gregor Dolinar called AI\u2019s mathematical progress &quot;fascinating&quot; and acknowledged that while scientific calculators were once essential, today it is often easier to rely on AI\u2014provided questions are posed correctly. AI can now tackle abstract, logical problems and explain its reasoning.<\/p>\n<p>Dolinar, an engineering professor at the University of Ljubljana, predicts that physical calculators will gradually disappear, a trend already evident among his students who perform all calculations on their phones.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Workers assembling calculators at Casio\u2019s factory in Thailand\u2019s Nakhon Ratchasima province continue to produce these enduring tools, ensuring their presence in markets where technology access remains limited.<\/strong> \u2014 AFP<\/p>\n<p><style>\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(14px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-slideup{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(20px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-pulse{0%,100%{box-shadow:0 0 14px #dc262688}50%{box-shadow:0 0 32px #dc2626,0 0 60px #dc262655}}\r\n@keyframes 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.hitl8gakbl{display:flex;align-self:center;text-align:left}\r\n  .hitl8gakbtn{width:100%;justify-content:center;padding:12px 20px}\r\n}\r\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Wide: >= 600px (leaderboard style) \u2500\u2500 *\/\r\n@container (min-width:600px){\r\n  .hitl8gaka{min-height:90px}\r\n}\r\n<\/style><!-- HiT Land Banner \u2014 Container Query Responsive -->\r\n<div class=\"hitl8gakw\">\r\n<a class=\"hitl8gaka\" href=\"https:\/\/hit.land\/services\/web-app-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-fadein 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0s;\">\r\n  <div class=\"hitl8gakg1\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-glow 3s ease-in-out infinite;\"><\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"hitl8gakg2\"><\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"hitl8gakgl\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-shimmer 3s ease-in-out infinite;\"><\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitl8gakc\">\r\n    \r\n    <div style=\"display:inline-flex;align-self:flex-start;align-items:center;gap:6px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.08);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-radius:20px;padding:3px 10px 3px 7px;margin-bottom:clamp(5px,0.6vw,9px);animation:hitl8gak-badge 0.5s ease both;\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:6px;height:6px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size:clamp(8px,0.9vw,10px);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.07em;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);text-transform:uppercase;white-space:nowrap;\">EXCLUSIVE OFFER<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakh\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.15s;\">Your Website <span style=\"color:#dc2626;\">Should Sell.<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gaks\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.3s;\">Custom-built websites with smart automation & AI-powered features.<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakbl\"><div class=\"hitl8gakbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>SEO-optimized & lightning fast<\/span><\/div><div class=\"hitl8gakbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Smart features built for your business<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitl8gakct\">\r\n    <button class=\"hitl8gakbtn\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-pulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;animation-delay:1s;\">Get Free Consultation <span style=\"opacity:.9;\">\u2192<\/span><\/button>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakbr\">hit.land<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman&#8217;s Market<\/p>\n<p>Casio\u2019s ongoing, though declining, calculator sales highlight a <strong>shift from traditional tools to AI and smartphone-based solutions<\/strong>, signaling that businesses in Oman should prioritize <strong>digital innovation over legacy tech<\/strong>. However, the sustained demand in regions with limited connectivity presents <strong>opportunities for affordable, reliable tech products targeting underserved markets<\/strong>. Smart investors should consider <strong>hybrid strategies combining dependable hardware with AI capabilities<\/strong> to capture both emerging and transitioning user bases.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The humble pocket calculator remains reliable, never hallucinating like AI, and sells millions yearly for Casio. Despite a decline due to smartphones and AI, calculators are affordable, battery\/solar-powered, and favored for ease and durability, especially in developing regions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[482],"tags":[264,3170,3171],"class_list":["post-7354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-calculator","tag-casio"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3229136.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7354"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7356,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7354\/revisions\/7356"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}