Silicon Valley’s biggest players are divided over the fate of the smartphone. While some are betting on groundbreaking technologies that could render handheld devices obsolete, others believe in refining the existing model rather than abandoning it entirely.
Elon Musk, through his company Neuralink, is pioneering brain-computer interfaces—implants that allow users to control devices using only their thoughts. No screens, no touch, just pure mind-driven action.
Bill Gates is backing digital tattoos, thus, nanosensors embedded in the skin that will monitor health, location, and communication without a traditional device. This innovation aims to seamlessly integrate technology into the human body.
Meanwhile, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg sees augmented reality glasses as the future. His vision is a world where digital content is projected directly into users’ fields of vision, replacing screens entirely. Instead of glancing down at a phone, you would engage with interactive overlays through AR-enabled eyewear.
However, not everyone is ready for such radical change. Apple’s Tim Cook is quite stuck on the smartphone. He believes that refining and upgrading smartphones, rather than replacing them, is the best way forward.
For example, the iPhone 16 integrates AI and AR, enhancing usability while maintaining its familiar form.
This growing divide represents more than just product development—it signals a shift in thinking about how humans will [should] interact with technology.
Will we abandon screens for a world of seamless, embedded tech, or will the smartphone remain our digital companion? What kind of future are you Excited about?
By Ebenezer De-Gaulle
