The average person checks their phone more than 200 times a day. Teenagers receive, on average, 250 notifications daily – whether at school, home, or overnight. For years, apps promising to facilitate users “disconnect” have simply added another icon to a screen that already feels impossible to ignore.
Now, the very companies that fueled global dependence on notifications and endless scrolling are paradoxically looking to offer a solution, according to a recent report from Business Insider.
OpenAI, Meta and Apple are preparing a new generation of “anti-smartphone” devices – gadgets that promise a calmer, more natural relationship with technology. This shift reflects a growing awareness of the impact of constant connectivity on mental wellbeing and productivity, prompting tech giants to explore alternative interaction models.
OpenAI and the Promise of a “Quiet” Gadget
OpenAI plans to launch a screenless, portable device in 2024, designed around the concept of “quiet technology,” sources familiar with the company’s plans have revealed.
CEO Sam Altman describes it as a digital alternative to escaping Times Square for a quiet cabin in the mountains – an intelligent companion capable of knowing when and why to notify you, relying on “contextual awareness of your entire life.”
The goal, Altman says, is to reduce information overload and provide a more natural access point to AI – not through a fatiguing screen, but as a discreet presence.
Meta Bets on the Future of Glasses
Meta has already paved the way for smart glasses, selling nearly 7 million pairs last year. The next generation, codenamed Orion, promises a fully integrated augmented reality experience powered by AI.
Mark Zuckerberg envisions a “post-smartphone future” where glasses don’t just display information, but understand the context of what you’re doing and assist you without interrupting your flow.
However, the lack of a firm launch date and the technical challenges of full AR leave room for skepticism.
Apple: Between Accessibility and Discretion
Apple, the company that reinvented personal computing with the iPhone, is working on multiple portable device formats – glasses, a smart ring, and advanced versions of AirPods – according to a Bloomberg report.
Rumors even suggest pendants with microphones and cameras designed as the “eyes and ears” of the iPhone. The objective: reducing physical interaction with the screen and transforming AI into a perpetually present, yet invisible, partner.
Why Replacing the Smartphone is So Hard
Since the iPhone’s debut in 2007, no device has replicated its cultural and technological impact. Ninety-one percent of American adults now carry a smartphone – a platform with millions of apps that have replaced wallets, cameras, and fitness trackers.
“These new AI-powered devices can’t just copy what a smartphone does,” explains Ramon Llamas, research director at IDC. “They need to demonstrate they solve a real problem. Otherwise, they’ll just be solutions looking for a problem.”
Between Utility and Addiction
Some experts argue that removing the screen doesn’t guarantee true digital detox.
“The screen may disappear, but a new problem emerges – AI companionship,” warns Olivia Gambelin, a specialist in AI ethics. A device that listens in on meetings and automatically composes emails may save time, but if it does the same in personal conversations, the risk of alienation is real.
The fundamental issue, Gambelin says, isn’t the screen itself, but the psychological mechanism that makes us reach for it constantly – the dopamine rush of notifications and continuous interaction.
The Challenge for Companies: Delivering Clear Value
Experts agree that the success of these new gadgets will depend on transformative features, not just slightly improved convenience.
“AI-based devices need to be contextual, personalized, and actionable,” says Jason Low, a researcher at Omdia.
Successful models already exist – such as the Oura Ring, which offers advanced sleep and health analysis and recently surpassed 5.5 million units sold. These products don’t replace the smartphone, but complement it in a refined and useful way.
Will AI Liberate Us From Screens – Or Just Connect Us to Them Differently?
Even as Silicon Valley companies envision a future without phones, the path remains long. Time spent on screens is a genuine concern, but as Altman suggests, perhaps the solution isn’t to abandon screens, but to learn to live in peace with technology.
the screen isn’t the enemy. What calls us to it is.
