However, the article also notes that incumbent technologies are hard to dislodge, and apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, which are dependent on smartphones, still have billions of users. The business case for AI-powered devices is also unclear, with potential safety concerns and the need for consumer acceptance. Despite these challenges, the article suggests that new devices like smart glasses could eventually free companies like Facebook from their dependence on smartphones, and usher in a new era of consumer technology.
Key takeaways:
- Mark Zuckerberg announced a new array of Meta products, including smart glasses incorporating an AI virtual assistant, which can see, hear, and answer their wearers' questions.
- OpenAI, the generative-AI pioneer, announced that its hit chatbot, ChatGPT, can now see, hear and speak, besides conversing by text. OpenAI is also in talks with Sir Jony Ive, Apple’s former designer, to create a new gadget for the AI era.
- There is a growing belief that the era of the smartphone and the screen might be coming to an end, to be replaced by more immersive, AI-powered devices like smart glasses and VR headsets.
- There are concerns about the safety and potential for isolation with these new technologies, and the business case for these devices, including monetization strategies, is still unclear.