There have been several tech trends in 2023 that provide a glimpse into the future. Of course, looming above them all is artificial intelligence, with proponents of products like ChatGPT adamant that the technology will be more disruptive than the internet. But in terms of hardware, 2023 has also been characterized by an effort to promote wearables as an alternative to the smartphone. Apple, for example, unveiled its Vision Pro, its AR headset (due out in 2024) that represents its first new type of hardware in years. And we also received details of the Humane Ai Pin (also due out in 2024), which, more than any other product, has hung its hat on replacing the smartphone.

Of course, we have been here before. Tech pundits have been talking about replacing the smartphone for years. Smartwatches, smart glasses, and even smart jewelry have been touted since the 2010s. And while some, like smartwatches, may be complementary to the smartphone, none of them have come close to replacing them. Apple and Humane, as well as other companies like Meta, have put a lot of money into developing their alternatives, and we will have to wait until 2024 to see if they really catch fire. But there are reasons to be doubtful.

Ai Pin can project to your hand

Ai Pin and Vision Pro are markedly different, and they have different strengths and weaknesses. Ai Pin is, as the name suggests, something that you pin on your shirt. It can do most of the things a smartphone does – take calls, send messages, search the internet, as well as providing AI capabilities – but it does not have a screen. Instead, you can project on a surface, such as your hand. However, while it might be fun to read a WhatsApp message on your hand, it overlooks the phone as a home for entertainment apps. And for that, you need a screen.

A huge amount of our entertainment is consumed through smartphones. Does anyone really want to watch a Netflix series on the palm of their hand? And as for gaming, there are now literally billions of smartphone gamers around the world. Whether you want to watch a series like Stranger Things or play entertaining games like Feliz Dia de los Muertos, you’ll want a screen. Up to 30% regularly watch television and movies on our smartphones, and there are close to one million gaming apps on the Apple App Store. Such a shift away from screens would be a titanic one.

Humane Ai Pin. Photo via https://twitter.com/LinusEkenstam/status/1722666540854608131/photo/1

Vision Pro may have a comfort issue

If you watched Apple’s WWDC 2023 back in June, when it unveiled Vision Pro, it was admittedly impressive to see how the device would project in front of your eyes. But Apple made very few references to gaming during the showcase. And we have also seen in subsequent trials that the device (including the battery pack) is quite heavy. Testers have confirmed that prolonged wearing of the device becomes very uncomfortable after a couple of hours, and one wonders what that would mean for someone watching a movie or having a gaming session.

In the end, these products have not launched on the market yet, so we have to reserve judgment. But there is a sense that Apple and others are trying to solve a problem we don’t have. Few of us find it uncomfortable having a smartphone in our pocket, so there should be skepticism about the need for wearables. But if they don’t find a way to replace the ease of access to entertainment that a smartphone offers, including a high-resolution screen, then the best they can hope for is a device that complements the ubiquitous smartphone, not replace it.

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