As a founder deeply immersed in both hardware and software, with a specialization in AI, I've spent years observing the tech industry's relentless pursuit of the "next big thing" beyond the smartphone. For a while now, the prevailing narrative has pointed squarely at Extended Reality (XR) and Augmented Reality (AR) glasses as the inevitable successor. Tech giants are pouring billions into this space, and every major developer conference features new advancements in wearable displays.
The Missing Link: Why AI Companions, Not XR Glasses, Are the True Next Step Beyond the Smartphone
However, I've held a contrarian view, one that I recently shared with my community, and which has now been profoundly validated by a groundbreaking development: OpenAI's acquisition of Jony Ive's new device startup, 'io.'
My conviction is this: current wearables, particularly smart glasses, are not the direct, immediate alternative to the smartphone for the masses. There's a crucial "middle device" missing, a stepping stone that bridges the vast user experience (UX) gap, making the transition practical and palatable for everyday users.
The Flawed Premise: Why Current Wearables Won't Be the Next Smartphone
Let's be clear: the technology behind XR and AR is incredible. The potential for immersive experiences, contextual information overlays, and new forms of interaction is undeniable. But potential does not always translate to immediate, widespread adoption. Here's why the current generation of smart glasses faces an uphill battle for mass appeal as a smartphone alternative:
The UX Friction is Too High:
Physical Discomfort & Social Stigma: Despite advancements, most AR/VR headsets are still bulky, heavy, and conspicuous. Wearing them for extended periods leads to fatigue, and their appearance often makes users feel self-conscious or socially awkward in public settings. The "looking weird" factor is a significant barrier to daily use.
Clunky Interaction Paradigms: While touchscreens are intuitive and universally understood, interacting with XR glasses often relies on gaze tracking, complex gestures, or nascent voice commands that lack the fluidity of a smartphone. Imagine trying to manage your daily tasks – texting, emailing, browsing, navigating – with these methods. It's simply not as efficient or natural yet.
Information Overload: The promise of overlaying digital information onto the real world can quickly turn into visual clutter and distraction, rather than seamless assistance. Our brains aren't wired for constant digital bombardment in our physical environment.
Mass Adoption Hurdles Remain Formidable:
Prohibitive Cost: High-end devices like Apple Vision Pro come with a price tag that puts them firmly in the luxury tech category, not the everyday consumer market. Even more affordable options still represent a significant investment for many.
Lack of a "Killer App" (for Consumers): Beyond specific enterprise applications (e.g., training, remote assistance) or niche entertainment, there isn't a compelling, must-have, daily consumer use case that justifies the investment and friction for the average person. What does it do that your phone doesn't, that makes it essential?
Privacy Concerns: The idea of always-on cameras and microphones recording public spaces raises significant privacy alarms for bystanders, leading to social resistance and potential regulatory challenges.
Battery Life: Powering sophisticated displays, sensors, and powerful processors in a compact form factor remains a major engineering challenge, leading to limited battery life that doesn't support all-day, untethered use.
The Missing Link: Why We Need a "Middle Device"
The path to integrating advanced AI into our lives doesn't have to be a sudden, jarring leap into a fully immersive, head-mounted future. Instead, what's needed is an intermediate device that bridges the UX gap, making AI interaction seamless and natural without demanding a complete shift in our physical habits or social norms.
This "middle device" would possess the following characteristics:
Ambient & Unobtrusive: It disappears into the background of your life. It's not something you wear on your face, but perhaps something you carry, wear subtly, or place on your desk. Its presence is felt through its utility, not its visual impact.
Voice-First & Contextual AI: It leverages the most natural human interface – voice – as its primary mode of interaction. It understands context, anticipates needs, and offers proactive assistance without requiring you to pull out a screen or perform complex gestures.
Focus on Core Utility: It streamlines common tasks, provides instant information, manages communications, and acts as an intelligent assistant, reducing the need to constantly pull out your phone for dozens of disparate apps.
Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary (for the user): By feeling familiar and non-threatening, it eases users into a new paradigm of AI interaction, building trust and habits that could eventually lead to more immersive experiences when the technology and social acceptance are truly ready.
Validation: The OpenAI & Jony Ive 'io' Acquisition
This is where my thesis finds its strongest validation. The recent news that OpenAI is acquiring 'io,' Jony Ive's startup, is a profound signal that the industry's brightest minds are recognizing this very "missing link."
Jony Ive's Philosophy: Ive's entire career at Apple was about making technology disappear, making it intuitive and beautiful. The iPod simplified music, the iPhone simplified computing. His involvement here suggests a focus on elegant simplicity and seamless integration, rather than complex interfaces.
OpenAI's Strategic Shift: OpenAI, the leader in generative AI software, is making its biggest acquisition to enter the hardware space. Their joint statement explicitly talks about creating a "new family of devices" that are "screen-free" and aim to "reimagine what it means to use a computer." This is a direct acknowledgment that current devices (including smartphones and, by extension, current XR glasses) are not optimized for the full potential of AI.
The "AI Companion": While details are scarce, the hints point to a device that is more like an intelligent, omnipresent companion – capable of being aware of your surroundings, fitting in your pocket or on your desk, and interacting primarily through voice. This perfectly embodies the "middle device" concept. Sam Altman's previous investment in the Humane AI Pin, while not a commercial success, likely provided invaluable lessons that are now being applied with world-class design expertise.
Implications for Founders and the Future
For founders in the hardware, software, and AI space, this shift is critical:
Prioritize Seamless UX: The battle for the next platform will be won on intuitive, low-friction user experiences.
Embrace Voice & Contextual AI: Invest deeply in natural language processing, understanding context, and building proactive, intelligent agents.
Design for Disappearance: The most successful AI hardware might be the one you barely notice, but can't live without. Aesthetics and integration into daily life are paramount.
Think Evolutionary: Instead of chasing the distant, complex future of full XR for all, focus on building the practical, delightful stepping stones that bridge the current tech with the AI-powered world.
Cultivate Empathy: As AI automates patterns and tasks, the uniquely human aspects – empathy, nuanced understanding, emotional intelligence – will become even more valuable. Foundational products and businesses that integrate these human-centric values will stand the test of time, as machines still struggle with true emotional comprehension.
Deep User Research (The Founder's Compass): For founders building a product for the long haul, truly understanding your user's lived experience is paramount. Being "in the feet of your user" through deep, qualitative research is the key to uncovering unspoken needs, anticipating behavior, and designing solutions that genuinely resonate and lead to lasting success.
The future of mobile isn't necessarily a sudden, jarring jump into virtual worlds through bulky headsets. It's more likely a carefully designed, unobtrusive AI companion that bridges the UX gap, making advanced AI truly accessible and integrated into our everyday lives by deeply understanding human needs and fostering empathy, paving the way for whatever comes next. This is the opportunity for the next generation of tech leaders.
