AI could make iPhones obsolete by 2035, Apple exec suggests

Apple executive Eddy Cue’s prediction about iPhones potentially becoming obsolete by 2035 highlights how AI advancements might fundamentally reshape our device ecosystem. While testifying in Google’s antitrust case, Cue made this striking claim about Apple’s flagship product, suggesting that significant technological disruption could dramatically alter the consumer technology landscape over the next decade.

The big picture: Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, speculated during court testimony that artificial intelligence could make iPhones unnecessary within a decade.

• “You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now as crazy as it sounds,” Cue stated during the Google antitrust trial proceedings.
• His remarks came as part of broader testimony about how AI represents a major technological shift that creates opportunities for new market entrants.

What he’s saying: Cue explicitly connected AI advancement to potential fundamental changes in consumer technology needs.

• “The only way you truly have true competition is when you have technology shifts. Technology shifts create these opportunities. AI is a new technology shift, and it’s creating new opportunities for new entrants.”

Context matters: Cue’s remarks were made while testifying in court regarding Google’s search dominance case.

• During the same testimony, Cue reportedly confirmed that Apple is planning shifts toward AI providers in Safari.
• The comments about iPhone’s future were likely an off-hand remark rather than an official Apple position or strategy.

Between the lines: Despite the speculative nature of the comment, the fact it came from a high-ranking Apple executive during public court testimony gives it substantial weight.

• While Apple likely isn’t actively planning for iPhone obsolescence, the comment acknowledges AI’s potential to dramatically reshape consumer computing.
• Wearable technology could potentially benefit from AI-driven shifts, especially if voice-first AI computing becomes more prevalent.

Why this matters: The statement represents a rare acknowledgment from Apple leadership about potential technological disruption to their most profitable product line.

• The iPhone generates the majority of Apple’s revenue, making any suggestion of its eventual obsolescence particularly notable.
• Cue’s comments signal that even Apple’s leadership recognizes the transformative potential of AI technologies.