Apple’s Eddy Cue warned that AI could make the iPhone obsolete within a decade, as the company prepares for a future defined by AI-driven devices like smart glasses and wearables. (Source: Image by RR)

AI Presents Transformative Shift That Could Undermine Current Tech Giants

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, made a bold prediction during the Google Search antitrust remedies trial, suggesting that the iPhone could become obsolete within the next decade due to the rapid advancement of AI. Cue compared the potential shift to Apple’s own decision to retire the iPod, noting that major technological changes often disrupt even the most successful companies. He emphasized that AI presents a massive shift in the tech industry that could usher in a new era, one where current dominant players risk being left behind.

Cue’s comments, as reported in a story in theverge.com, underline the volatility of the tech landscape, pointing out that industry giants like HP, Sun Microsystems and Intel, once viewed as invincible, have either disappeared or faded significantly. This serves as a cautionary tale about assuming market dominance is permanent. For Apple, which currently derives more than half its revenue from the iPhone, such a statement underscores just how seriously the company views the transformative power of AI.

The idea of a post-smartphone future isn’t purely theoretical. Cue noted that some companies have already attempted to replace smartphones with AI-centric gadgets—though so far with limited success. Products like Meta’s Ray-Ban AI glasses illustrate early efforts to decouple AI assistants from phones. While these innovations haven’t caught on yet, they reflect an industry-wide search for the next major computing interface.

Apple itself is rumored to be exploring AI-driven hardware alternatives, including smarter AirPods, advanced wearables, and even smart glasses. These initiatives suggest that the company is already preparing for a future in which consumers interact with AI through multiple devices, rather than relying solely on a smartphone. Cue’s remarks indicate Apple is not just acknowledging the AI shift—it’s preparing to lead it.

read more at theverge.com