#nexticonicdevice

Every technological era has its signature device that reshapes daily life and culture. As we enter the AI age, the hunt for that defining gadget intensifies, with innovators like Jony Ive leading the charge.

Historical Icons of Tech Eras

Past eras produced unmistakable gadgets that defined them. The car embodied the combustion age, enabling mass mobility; the telephone defined telecom by connecting voices across distances; the PC powered the information age with personal computing; and the iPhone revolutionized the internet age through touch interfaces and apps.

These devices weren’t just tools — they became cultural symbols, embedding themselves in habits and economies. The AI age, powered by large language models (LLMs) and neural processing, demands something equally transformative.

Failed Attempts and Current Contenders

Early AI hardware efforts have faltered. The Humane AI Pin faced scathing reviews for unreliability, while the Rabbit r1 was dismissed as a novelty “paperweight.” These screenless wearables promised ambient intelligence but lacked seamless integration.

Meta’s smart glasses stand out, with nearly 10 million units sold, offering AR overlays and AI assistance. Yet they remain niche accessories, not era-defining staples like the smartphone.

Jony Ive’s Bold Vision with OpenAI

Former Apple design chief Jony Ive, creator of the iMac, iPod, and iPhone, now partners with OpenAI’s Sam Altman on a revolutionary device. This “third core device” — compact, screen-free, and context-aware — aims to transcend phones, integrating into lifestyles like a silent companion.

OpenAI plans to ship over 100 million units faster than any prior launch, targeting late 2026 despite technical challenges. Ive envisions “magical intelligence” that enhances life without dominating attention, potentially featuring voice-to-voice interaction and environmental awareness.

The Smartphone Reborn?

The next icon might not be entirely new but an evolved smartphone. AI could “dissolve into” it, turning devices into always-present agents with LLMs as the OS, NPUs for real-time inference, voice as zero-UI, and ambient data from sensors.

Apple bets on this, enhancing Siri and privacy-focused AI within existing hardware. Amazon explores AI-heavy phones via its Transformer project, emphasizing voice over apps to combat screen addiction.

Privacy and Societal Challenges

AI gadgets raise alarms. Glasses could enable strangers to scrape personal data like LinkedIn profiles or transactions in real-time, blurring public-private boundaries.

Ive prioritizes humane design: screenless, tactile, and “happy-making,” earning attention only when valuable. This “anti-phone” ethos counters addictive tech, fostering ambient computing.

What Lies Ahead?

The defining gadget of the AI age — be it Ive’s creation, reborn smartphones, or wearables — must solve intent execution, privacy, and seamlessness. As 2026 unfolds, Jony Ive’s toughest assignment could crown the era’s icon, much like his iPhone did before.