We're far from having an AI equivalent of the BlackBerry, and certainly not anywhere near an AI iPhone.

 

In 2022 and 2023, we saw the rise of ChatGPT and other AI software, but now in 2024, the spotlight is on AI hardware. It's like everyone is trying to launch the next big thing – the "iPhone of AI," as people like to call it. However, let's be realistic; we're not getting that groundbreaking AI device this year or even the next.

I'm not trying to be controversial here, but let's use a metaphor to explain. We haven't even created the BlackBerry of AI yet. Without that, predicting what the iPhone of AI could be is a shot in the dark. We're not there yet.

This isn't a dig at the AI hardware startups we've seen; it's just acknowledging that we're in a phase of massive experimentation. Money is pouring into turning silicon into consumer electronics, taking us back to the gadget craze of the late 2000s, when everything shiny and new caught our eyes.

But unlike 2005, it's not just about polished design now. Whether it's typography or CMF, the AI hardware products you'll see are well-executed. However, true design brilliance comes when these gadgets seamlessly integrate into our lives, transforming the magic of AI into practical functions.

Looking back at smartphone history, the touchscreen revolution led by the iPhone in 2007 wasn't an obvious path. Touchscreens were associated with ATMs, not the sleek devices we have today. Mobile chips brought a flood of capabilities, leading to a variety of phone designs – CandyBars, flip phones, PDAs, and QWERTY sliders.

Your phone choice became a form of self-expression, reflecting your style and preferences. The utilitarian Nokia 1100 was durable and budget-friendly. The Motorola Razr was sleek and became a status symbol. BlackBerry, with its QWERTY keyboard and enterprise email, dominated the business world.

Even after the iPhone's 2007 debut, it took years to overshadow the BlackBerry. The iPhone's multi-touch interface made digital information tactile, erasing the need for physical buttons. The iPhone's success wasn't just about eliminating the keyboard; it maximized screen size, a game-changer.

Competitors struggled to catch up, and it took years for them to rival Apple's quality and experience. No one foresaw the iPhone's revolutionary impact, not even Apple, which initially envisioned it as an iPod Mini with a rotary dial.

Now, we're at the brink of an AI revolution. Language models like LLMs are the foundation of our digital experience. However, we're still figuring out what these models can truly do. There won't be a universal hardware standard until we understand AI's capabilities.

As new startups emerge, we'll witness a range of fresh designs tailored to specific use cases, reflecting our identity. The ecological impact of this era worries me, as AI consumes energy and failures contribute to waste. Let's hope the iPhone of AI, when it arrives, is worth its true cost. In the meantime, maybe we'll get a Nokia 1100, a Razr, a Sidekick, or a BlackBerry to tide us over.

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