Apple’s Foldable Screen is Exciting, but Has the “iPhone Moment” with AI Arrived?
Hello everyone, I’m your financial journalist.
I just finished watching Apple’s latest press conference, and I’m sure many of you share the same mixed feelings as I do. On one hand, the iPhone 18 and the foldable iPhone Duo are indeed impressive—with a smoother hinge, a more powerful chip, and a smarter Siri, making them highly sought-after products. On the other hand, the sense of awe that乔布斯 created when he stepped onto the stage in 2007 and announced “The world has changed” has faded significantly.
Why? Because the foldable screen is just making the phone thinner and bigger; it’s an optimization of the user experience. However, the original iPhone represented a leap in technological dimensions.
Today, we’ll break down this in simple terms and explore why, despite the advancements in AI, we’re not yet at the “iPhone moment” and what the future “AI iPhone” might look like.
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1. Looking Back: What Was the Real “iPhone Moment”?
Many think the “iPhone moment” was when a phone sold out instantly. But that’s not what made it revolutionary.
1. It wasn’t about inventing the phone; it was about changing how people interacted with the internet.
Before the iPhone, to access the internet, you needed a computer, sit down, open a browser, and type a URL. With the iPhone, the internet became part of your daily life. Your fingers replaced the mouse, and features like cameras, GPS, and microphones brought the real world directly into the digital realm.
2. It unleashed a huge demand that had been suppressed.
The App Store’s launch in 2008 sparked the rise of apps like WeChat, Didi, TikTok, and Alipay. Why? Because the iPhone made it convenient to communicate, navigate, and make payments anytime, anywhere.
3. Three key elements of the “iPhone moment”:
- Technological maturity: The hardware was powerful enough to handle these new functions.
- Low barrier to entry: Anyone could use it without needing extensive training.
- Unleashed demand: Things that were previously difficult became possible with the iPhone.
Conclusion: The real revolution wasn’t about the technology itself but about how it adapted to people’s lives, making technology invisible and seamlessly integrated into daily activities.
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2. The Current Situation: AI Is Powerful, but People Find It Underwhelming
AI is making headlines for solving complex problems and performing tasks, but for most people, the experience feels lacking.
1. A gap between advanced users and the general public:
- Advanced users see AI as a powerful tool for research and productivity.
- General users use it mainly for basic tasks, like looking up information.
2. The high barrier to using AI
Using AI effectively requires multiple roles: defining goals, providing context, reviewing results, and integrating the output into daily tasks.
Even Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, still uses traditional methods like checking emails and copying data.
3. The core issue: Technology has advanced, but the user experience hasn’t kept up.
Currently, AI requires users to learn specific commands and adapt to its logic, which remains a barrier to widespread adoption.
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3. Apple’s New Attempt: Turning the iPhone into an “AI Hub”
Apple’s new approach aims to make the iPhone an “Intelligent Personal Hub” that can sense, understand, and act on your needs.
1. How is Apple doing this?
- Siri’s capabilities have expanded: It can now access your emails and schedule tasks across apps.
- But is that enough for the “iPhone moment”?
The real revolution requires a closed loop where AI continuously improves based on user feedback.
Conclusion: While Apple’s efforts are promising, we’re still far from the “iPhone moment” where AI becomes an integral part of daily life, seamlessly integrated into our routines.
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4. Imagining the Future of AI: What Will the “AI iPhone” Look Like?
For AI to truly revolutionize our lives, it needs to be more than just a tool. It should be like a personal assistant with five key capabilities:
1. Always On**: Always aware of your needs and acting proactively.
- Context Awareness: Understanding the context of your requests and making appropriate suggestions.
2. Actionability**: Directly controlling devices and tasks.
3. Boundary Awareness**: Knowing when to intervene and when to let you make decisions.
4. Continuous Learning**: Learning from user feedback and improving over time.
Hardware Landscape: This “assistant” might not be a single device but a set of interconnected devices:
- Phone: For identity verification and basic interactions.
- Watches/Braces: For health monitoring.
- Headphones: For communication.
- Glasses/Bracelets: For environmental awareness.
- Desktop Devices: For more complex tasks.
The ultimate goal: An AI system that understands your needs and seamlessly integrates into all aspects of your life, making technology virtually invisible.
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5. Reimagining the “Human-Car-Home” Ecosystem
Years ago, the concept of a connected “human-car-home” ecosystem was dismissed as overly ambitious. But with AI, this vision is becoming reality. AI agents will understand your environment and directly influence your daily life, making technology an integral part of your life.
Conclusion: While Apple’s foldable screen is exciting, we’re waiting for the AI that truly revolutionizes our lives, making technology invisible and enhancing our experiences.
What do you think the “AI iPhone” should look like? Share your thoughts in the comments below!