Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out of the confines of Mountain View.
I used to be not too long ago requested to present some the reason why somebody would possibly need to transfer from iOS to Android, below the pretense that this hypothetical individual hadn’t used Android in over 10 years. After sitting and enthusiastic 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 yr, as I’ve watched Google, Samsung, Apple, OnePlus, and others, attempt to discover the best steadiness. OpenAI’s ChatGPT is admittedly guilty after it exploded onto the scene again in late 2022. It turned so common so shortly that it compelled Google’s hand to the purpose that Gemini was initially known as Bard. Like, for months, earlier than making the proper determination to rebrand it.
On the identical time, Apple threw within the towel and simply built-in ChatGPT into the iPhone, and it nonetheless does 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 received 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 presumably be subsequent?
There’s not a lot else that may be finished in the way in which of design innovation. We have already got flippable clamshells, book-style foldables, and even bi-folds that everybody is looking tri-folds. And whereas rollable telephones have not actually hit the market but, they may not be far off, as Lenovo introduced a rollable laptop computer that is really being launched later this yr.
Android is not taking part in catchup to iOS, at the very least in most regards, and one may even argue that Android is the higher platform for everybody. Do you need to tinker? Use Android. Need to hold issues easy? Get a Pixel. Seeking to replicate the Apple ecosystem? Look no additional than Samsung.
Whereas I may undoubtedly sit right here and nitpick about issues on each iOS and Android, that is sort 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 fundamental of duties on one and never the opposite have disappeared from the rearview mirror.
So what can presumably be subsequent? I truthfully do not assume the reply really lies inside smartphones. If I have been to make a non-educated guess, the “Subsequent Massive Factor” would not even have something to do with a smartphone. I feel we’re heading in a very completely different course, and the probably finish result’s going to be a wearable like Meta’s Ray Ban Sensible Glasses.
Perhaps it will not be these particularly, nevertheless it must be one thing in that ballpark. On the identical time, I do not assume it will likely 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 common 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 can should be remedied with varied Android XR headsets after 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 bounce in comparison with Meta, that is not essentially a nasty factor. With different firms already releasing choices, this provides others the chance to study what errors to keep away from, along with having an concept of “what works” versus what does not.
Nevertheless, in contrast to 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 anticipate Gemini to be in all places and wherever that Google can put it, however I additionally would not be stunned if its performance is proscribed for the primary yr or two.
That is just because good glasses have a restricted bodily area, and can have a mess of varied sensors and different needed parts simply to work. Plus, new platforms and new gadgets normally 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 change the smartphone for a lot of causes, however primarily as a result of your cellphone is essentially the most private gadget you will have. That is partially why I feel 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 could appear 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 day by day lives.
