Why AI could make app-based smartphones a thing of the past

Deutsche Telekom, the German telecommunications company, unveiled an AI phone at Mobile World Congress earlier this week (February 27). The phone, which aims to “replace the countless apps” on a traditional smartphone, such as an Apple iPhone or Google Pixel, is a collaboration between the company Brain.ai and Qualcomm.

Thanks to AI, everyday functions once performed by apps will soon be performed by a concierge-style assistant. “Artificial intelligence and large language models (LLM) will soon become an integral part of mobile devices,” said Jon Abrahamson, chief product officer and chief digital officer of Deutsche Telekom.

“We will use them to improve and simplify the lives of our customers. Our vision is a magenta concierge for a smartphone without an app. A true everyday companion that meets needs and simplifies digital life.”

Meanwhile, February 19 Meizu technology announced that he was leaving the smartphone sector completely. Its holding company, Geely, is investing heavily in AI, convinced that artificial intelligence is the future. As a result, there will be no more Meizu 21 Pro, Meizu 22 and Meizu 23 series. Instead, an AI-enabled hardware product will be launched later this year, according to the company.

Of course, the above developments follow devices such as the Rabbit R1, an AI-powered mini handset, and the AI-powered wearable Humane Ai Pin becoming available to more customers.

Luke Pearce, research analyst at CCS Insight, believes businesses are taking note of how consumers have responded to recent AI developments.

“Consumers associate GenAI with futuristic and innovative ideas, and companies want to show how they use these technologies in marketing their products,” Pearce told Android Central.

Not only are companies taking note of the futuristic possibilities of AI, but they are also keenly aware of how often consumers take advantage of annual flagship products.

Shen Ziyu, chairman and CEO of Xingji Meizu Group, noted that smartphone users are taking longer to upgrade. Its findings showed that it took users an average of 51 months, or almost four years, to upgrade. THE Scientiamobile Mobile Pitch Report Confirmed that in the second quarter of 2023, the majority of Android smartphone users (26.4%) have used their device for approximately two to three years. DazeInfo added that 61.8 percent of all Android smartphones are used between two and five years.

“Smartphone makers are certainly betting that AI is the answer to encouraging upgrades and trying to differentiate themselves on software,” Pearce explained.

It remains to be seen, however, whether this will be enough to encourage customers to get an upgrade.

And while consumers will likely see fewer annual events announcing hardware upgrades, such presentations won’t necessarily disappear, according to Pearce.

“I’m not sure this will completely change, as there is also a lot of hardware involved in AI phones, such as the chipsets that power these devices and the annual generational improvements in performance that they also bring. But yes, in the future we may see less frequent smartphone launch cycles, especially with the growing pressure on environment and sustainability.

Apps and the money they generate represent a vital source of revenue for myriad development companies. A phone without an app means one less user generating revenue, which can then multiply, leaving companies scrambling to make up for lost profits.

In 2023, Apple announced that app store developers generated $1.1 trillion in invoices and sales in 2022. In this announcement, it was also noted that an analysis by the Progressive Policy Institute found that 4.8 million jobs are supported by the iOS app economy in the United States alone. and Europe.

“We are also skeptical of AI devices without an app UI,” Pearce said.

“While AI is being described as the next step forward for consumer mobile experiences, today’s app-based UX will certainly endure for some time to come.”

This app-based UX may also persist due to growing consumer concerns about AI. Although AI has many benefits, privacy, creativity harms, and ethical concerns persist and will persist. These feelings will need to be taken into account by companies and manufacturers if they expect users to adhere to them.

“Security and privacy are key considerations for AI,” Pearce said. “Putting more AI on the device is the way forward to protect user data and reduce the need for cloud and third-party access. It will be necessary to communicate this clearly and sensitively to consumers to ensure that these reservations can be overcome.

The end result is a future that has many attractive aspects as well as concern on the part of the business and the consumer. How can businesses compensate for lost revenue and jobs while working to educate consumers about the potential of AI?

Meanwhile, are consumers ready to accept a world with less control? These questions will need to be answered as soon as possible, because this particular future is fast approaching.