Much of the AI discussion assumes meaningful economic impact is inevitable (good and bad). This article is my attempt to explore what happens if AI progress lags expectations, and how different business models (using Apple as a case study) might fare in that scenario.
https://ericlamb.substack.com/p/apple-vs-the-ai-hype-cycle
1 Comment
I like the article, but disagree with some of your conclusions. I actually think the single strangest thing about the current AI moment is that Apple—and therefore iPhones—are virtually irrelevant. In my view, one of the main reasons people think AI is a bust is precisely because (weirdly) it’s not implemented on their phones.
Imagine a world where Siri functions as smoothly as talking to a person—no delays, no miscues, no dumb misunderstands. Just an intelligent companion that can talk to you about any topic under the sun, including (but not limited to) anything on your phone.
The risk to Apple is this: With today’s AI (or maybe next year’s), you don’t really need a phone filled with “apps,” with their various interfaces. You just need a slab of glass that you can talk to that can show you information—your information, or public information. Apple can create that device, but there’s no inherent reason why other companies can’t do it just as well.