Summary of the Key Points in Plain Language
This is a summary of insights gathered from four industry experts in different aspects of AI implementation. The main message is that the mobile internet rules we've used for over a decade are being completely overturned by AI agents—intelligent systems that can directly assist us with tasks. In the past, to do anything, you had to pick up your phone, find the relevant app, and perform the necessary steps manually. In the future, you might just need to wear AI glasses or headphones, and without even having to speak, the AI could handle tasks like arranging a car ride, booking a restaurant, or purchasing school supplies for your child. The way internet traffic is distributed and profits are generated is being reshaped by AI, which takes over the entire process from identifying needs to executing tasks. The value of mobile app interfaces, which everyone used to compete for, is rapidly diminishing.
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Point-by-Point Explanation in Plain Language
1. The “dominant” role of the phone is being gradually diminished
In the past, the phone was the center of everyone's digital life: to take a photo, you had to open the camera; to hail a car, you had to use a ride-hailing app. All services required you to actively use your phone. However, new devices like AI glasses and headphones offer a level of continuous perception that the phone never had. For example, if you wear AI glasses during a meeting and forget a client's request, the glasses can record the entire conversation and highlight the key points for you. Or if you mention you need to meet an old client while cooking, the headphones can automatically arrange the necessary arrangements without you even stopping what you're doing. This means that the traditional model, where people actively sought out their phones for services, is shifting to one where devices anticipate your needs and arrange them for you. The phone's remaining core functions are mainly for tasks that require your personal authorization, such as facial recognition for payments and confirmation of important information.
2. You won't need to remember which apps to use; the choice will be made by AI
In the past, internet companies spent billions on subsidies to secure a spot on your phone’s home screen, fearing that you might use a competitor’s app instead. But this strategy won’t work in the future. You won’t need to know how many apps exist or compare which platforms offer the best deals. You just need to tell your AI, “I need to be at the airport in half an hour,” and it will handle all the travel arrangements for you without you even having to open an app. The power to decide which app to use has shifted from you to the AI.
3. Platforms no longer compete for user opening rates; they compete for the right to be selected by AI
Platforms like Taobao used to worry about users not using their apps for months and then switching to competitors. But now, even if you’ve never used Taobao, you can still contribute to its business. For instance, Taobao’s shopping features can automatically purchase the necessary items for your child’s school supplies based on your requests. The key competitiveness of platforms now lies in their real-world resources, such as inventory, merchant partnerships, delivery speed, and after-sales support. As long as a platform can become the preferred choice for AI, it can still be profitable, even if users have never used its app.
4. What’s in short supply now is not AI technology, but clear rules for who pays when things go wrong
With traditional apps, the responsibility was clear: if you made a mistake, you were usually at fault. However, with AI, the responsibility chain is much longer. If the AI glasses mislead you about the destination or the app provides incorrect information, it’s hard to determine who is at fault. Platforms are starting to establish clear rules to address these issues. For example, Taobao has stated that it will compensate users for any address errors made by its AI. The industry needs to establish more such rules to build users’ trust and encourage them to entrust all their tasks to AI.
In summary, the future of technology means that AI will handle many of our daily tasks, freeing us from the need to manually operate apps and worry about the details. The focus is shifting from competing for user attention to providing reliable and efficient services.