Is Apple Preparing for a Post-iPhone Era? Cue Suggests AI May Overtake Smartphones

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, Apple is reportedly considering what might come after the iPhone era. Senior executive Eddy Cue has suggested that AI could eventually overtake smartphones as the dominant technology in consumers’ lives.

A Shift at the Heart of Apple?

During a recent courtroom exchange in the ongoing legal battle with Alphabet, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, offered a perspective few anticipated. In his own words: « You might not need an iPhone in ten years, as crazy as that sounds. » Such a statement, coming from one of Cupertino’s key figures, inevitably raises eyebrows. After all, the iPhone has long reigned as the flagship product—the linchpin of the company’s success.

The Rise of AI and Changing Dynamics

But why consider a post-iPhone world now? According to Cue, it’s the dawn of artificial intelligence that truly has disruptive potential. As he explained, « technological shifts create unprecedented opportunities for new players ». It’s more than just another innovation cycle; AI threatens to push even dominant devices into obsolescence. The fate of the iPod offers a telling precedent: accounting for 40% of group revenue in 2006, it vanished entirely by 2022—a reminder that even icons can be overtaken by change.

Diversification Amid Fierce Competition

Yet, doubts remain. Can any product so quickly lose its relevance when it still generated $201.1 billion for Apple in fiscal 2024—over half its total revenue? The tide, however, is slowly turning. Recent quarters have seen the iPhone’s share dip to 49%, while services and other innovations steadily gain ground. In today’s landscape, attention has shifted towards:

• AI-powered systems, redefining user interactions.
• The emergence of proprietary search engines like those rumored for Safari.
• Innovative software platforms, including visionOS, promising fresh experiences.

Rumors suggest that integrating an AI-based search tool directly within Safari could shake up the dominance held by Google Search, adding fuel to an already intense rivalry.

Towards Connected Glasses and New Platforms?

Interestingly, this vision extends well beyond Apple’s walls. At Meta, Mark Zuckerberg champions smart glasses as viable smartphone alternatives—a sentiment echoed internally at Apple by Tim Cook’s increased focus on AR eyewear and the development of visionOS. With WWDC 2025 looming and anticipation building around iOS 19 and AI announcements, speculation runs high: are we glimpsing a future where connected glasses replace handhelds? While observers once dismissed such shifts as improbable, history suggests this industry giant often surprises precisely when least expected.

If anything is certain, it’s that no device—no matter how iconic—remains irreplaceable forever in Silicon Valley’s relentless race for relevance.