The discussion highlights the uncertain yet promising future of AI-powered devices, with Apple potentially entering the smart glasses market by 2026 amid challenges in manufacturing and AI development. Experts note that while wearable AR/VR devices are gaining traction and companies like Meta and Google are advancing in this space, fully autonomous, screenless AI devices remain a distant goal, and Apple’s current AI investments are seen as cautious rather than definitive.
The discussion centers around the speculative developments in AI-powered devices, particularly focusing on Apple’s potential entry into this market. Bloomberg reports that Apple is aiming to release smart glasses by 2026, having recently acquired Jony Ive’s design firm, signaling a renewed interest in innovative hardware. However, plans for a smart watch with a built-in camera have been scrapped. Barton Crockett from Rosenblatt Securities emphasizes that these developments are still highly uncertain and that manufacturing at scale remains a significant challenge, especially given Apple’s current difficulties in shifting production from China to other regions.
Crockett highlights that while technological transformation is underway, the idea of a fully autonomous, AI-driven device that can operate without a traditional screen is still far from reality. Voice assistants like Siri, even if perfected, face limitations in contexts where speaking out loud isn’t feasible or practical. He notes that many use cases still require visual interaction with screens, and current AI voice technology hasn’t yet reached the level where it can replace traditional interfaces entirely. Apple’s struggles in pioneering new AI-driven device forms suggest that competitors like Meta and OpenAI are more aggressively pushing forward in this space.
The conversation then shifts to the popularity and potential of smart glasses, with companies like Meta and Google making strides in this area. Meta’s recent success with their glasses and Google’s ongoing efforts, including their stake in Ray-Ban, indicate that wearable AR/VR devices are gaining traction. Crockett believes that in the next decade, wearing such glasses could become commonplace, creating significant opportunities for innovation and new user experiences. The idea of smart glasses as the next big device is gaining momentum, and Apple is likely to be a key player in this evolving market.
Crockett expresses skepticism about Apple’s recent $6.5 billion investment in OpenAI, suggesting that the move is more of an insurance policy than a guaranteed success. He criticizes the lack of concrete details about Apple’s AI plans, noting that the investment seems driven by a desire to stay competitive rather than confidence in immediate returns. He compares this to past missteps like the Newton, implying that Apple’s current AI ambitions are ambitious but uncertain. The market for AI devices remains nascent, and Crockett sees the potential for these technologies to develop gradually over the next decade.
Finally, the discussion touches on the broader possibilities of AI and robotics, including Elon Musk’s vision of personal robots. Crockett acknowledges that while these ideas are exciting and plausible in the future, they are still in the realm of dreams and early development. He suggests that Apple and other tech giants like Alphabet are better positioned to succeed in creating impactful AI devices due to their existing resources and experience. Overall, while the future of AI-powered devices holds promise, Crockett emphasizes that significant work remains before these innovations become mainstream, and current efforts are still in the exploratory phase.