Perplexity CEO: the iPhone could become the ultimate AI device

While many people foresee the end of the smartphone format as AI emerges, Perplexity’s chief executive expects the opposite. In his view, smartphones are nowhere near disappearing. The iPhone could even become the ultimate AI device.

Who wants to kill off the iPhone? Not every technology giant, at any rate. Aravind Srinivas, Perplexity’s CEO, does not believe the smartphone format is coming to an end. That is what he said in an interview with This Week in AI.

The lengthy podcast covered numerous topics, including coding with artificial intelligence and the wider adoption of the technology in Hollywood. During the conversation, Aravind Srinivas discussed Apple’s AI work, particularly its partnership with Gemini (Google). He believes Apple has every advantage it needs to make a major impact, provided it takes the necessary time. He also addressed the device itself: the iPhone will remain central to how people use technology, even as AI becomes mainstream:

“In my opinion, the iPhone will not be replaced by AI. The more sophisticated AI becomes, the more your iPhone becomes your digital passport. It contains your wallet, your bank cards, your tickets, your health data… It lets you connect with other people. You use it for FaceTime, you make calls, and it holds photos of precious moments in your life. All these things are deeply personal and have no connection with AI.”

Smartphones can coexist with AI

This view is notable because Aravind Srinivas appears to be moving against the current trend in the AI world: eliminating the smartphone. Many people in technology already envisage the end of this kind of product, replaced by devices powered by embedded intelligence. Jony Ive, for instance, is working with OpenAI on a revolutionary object intended to replace our phones.

They are not alone. Motorola, for example, unveiled an AI-powered pendant at CES in Las Vegas. It is a small device that people can interact with without needing to look at a screen. Is that really what the future holds? Perplexity does not think so.

The iPhone as the ultimate AI device

Presse-citron’s analysis

Artificial intelligence is set to remain part of our lives. But does it necessarily have to replace what already exists? Ultimately, that will depend on what users want. For now, it is difficult to imagine a world without screens. An AI pendant could certainly handle many tasks, but it would never replace the enjoyment of images or the ease of navigating a graphical interface.

Aravind Srinivas also makes an interesting point about the iPhone itself. In his view, Apple’s phone could become the ultimate object in the AI race. Its AI could be handled as locally as possible, using the processor for computations. For online use, Apple benefits from consumers’ trust in its approach to data protection. Users may therefore be more willing to allow the storage of photos or sensitive data, all managed by AI. Finally, although the Cupertino company is arriving late, this gives it an advantage in understanding what customers do and do not want from AI.

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