Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each inside and outside of the confines of Mountain View.
I used to be just lately requested to present some the reason why somebody would possibly need to transfer from iOS to Android, below the pretense that this hypothetical particular person hadn’t used Android in over 10 years. After sitting and eager about it for a short time, I supplied my responses, however I additionally got here away with a burning query — Is AI actually the final frontier?
It is a query that is been rattling round in my head for the higher a part of the previous 12 months, as I’ve watched Google, Samsung, Apple, OnePlus, and others, attempt to discover the appropriate stability. OpenAI’s ChatGPT is absolutely responsible after it exploded onto the scene again in late 2022. It turned so in style so shortly that it compelled Google’s hand to the purpose that Gemini was initially referred to as Bard. Like, for months, earlier than making the right determination to rebrand it.
On the identical time, Apple threw within the towel and simply built-in ChatGPT into the iPhone, and it nonetheless would not do something to make Siri any higher. Samsung’s partnership with Google is paying off, as it’s leaning closely on Gemini for its Galaxy AI integrations. Even OnePlus acquired within the sport, additionally counting on a mixture of its personal in-house developed AI fashions, together with Gemini Nano on the likes of the OnePlus 13.
All of this sounds nice, actually. However what can probably be subsequent?
There’s not a lot else that may be performed in the way in which of design innovation. We have already got flippable clamshells, book-style foldables, and even bi-folds that everybody is asking tri-folds. And whereas rollable telephones have not actually hit the market but, they won’t be far off, as Lenovo introduced a rollable laptop computer that is truly being launched later this 12 months.
Android is not enjoying catchup to iOS, at the very least in most regards, and one might even argue that Android is the higher platform for everybody. Do you need to tinker? Use Android. Wish to maintain issues easy? Get a Pixel. Trying to replicate the Apple ecosystem? Look no additional than Samsung.
Whereas I might undoubtedly sit right here and nitpick about issues on each iOS and Android, that is form of the purpose. They’re solely nitpicks. The panorama is nothing prefer it was once, as there’s fairly a little bit of characteristic parity between the 2 platforms. No, it is not synchronous, however the days of not with the ability to carry out even essentially the most primary of duties on one and never the opposite have disappeared from the rearview mirror.
So what can probably be subsequent? I actually do not assume the reply truly lies inside smartphones. If I have been to make a non-educated guess, the “Subsequent Large Factor” would not even have something to do with a smartphone. I believe we’re heading in a very completely different course, and the almost definitely finish result’s going to be a wearable like Meta’s Ray Ban Sensible Glasses.
Perhaps it will not be these particularly, but it surely must be one thing in that ballpark. On the identical time, I do not assume will probably be digital actuality, at the very least not in our day-to-day lives. Perhaps VR overtakes console gaming or one thing, however seeing how in style handhelds have gotten, I doubt even that occurs.
As identified by Michael Hicks, Android Central’s senior editor of Wearables & AR/VR, there are loads of potential issues that may must be remedied with numerous Android XR headsets once they lastly hit the market. These are comparable points to those that proceed to have an effect on smartwatches, corresponding to “battery life, comfy and classy designs, accessible controls,” amongst others.
Though Google and Samsung are getting a late leap in comparison with Meta, that is not essentially a nasty factor. With different firms already releasing choices, this offers others the chance to study what errors to keep away from, along with having an thought of “what works” versus what would not.
Nonetheless, not like smartphones and different wearables, Android XR has the distinct and distinctive “benefit” of being the primary new platform to reach within the age of AI. We absolutely count on Gemini to be in every single place and wherever that Google can put it, however I additionally would not be shocked if its performance is proscribed for the primary 12 months or two.
That is just because good glasses have a restricted bodily area, and may have a large number of varied sensors and different vital elements simply to work. Plus, new platforms and new gadgets often imply greater costs as firms attempt to recoup the R&D prices along with trying to show a revenue.
No, I do not imagine that AI is the ultimate frontier, however I do imagine that we’re on the “finish of the road” by way of avenues that may be explored by way of {hardware}.
Nothing will be capable of replicate and even substitute the smartphone for a lot of causes, however primarily as a result of your telephone is essentially the most private machine you could have. That is partially why I believe we’re seeing firms shift focus to implementing AI into the software program, because it ought to make our most private gadgets much more private.
So, whereas it might seem to be AI is the subsequent frontier, I do imagine that there is nonetheless room for one thing new by way of {hardware}. Now, it is simply as much as firms to determine what that appears like and discover methods to implement it in our each day lives.
