OpenAI je pred kratkim za 6,5 milijarde dolarjev prevzel startup "io", ki ga je ustanovil legendarni oblikovalec Jony Ive. Skupaj naj bi razvijali naprave, ki bodo umetno inteligenco še bolj približale našemu vsakdanu.
Ni še znano, kakšni bodo ti izdelki, a govori se, da zaslon ne bo ključen del naprave, kar pomeni pomemben odmik od zasnove pametnih telefonov.
Uživam v knjigah, stripih in filmih, ki raziskujejo prihodnost, zato sem tudi sam razmišljal, kakšne bi lahko bile te naprave. ChatGPT se sporazumeva vse bolje, zato bo komunikacija verjetno zvočna in slikovna. Če bo izdelek skušal počasi zamenjati mobilni telefon, bo verjetno majhen prenosljiv in diskreten.
Prvi poskusi umetne inteligence v škatlici niso prinesli najboljših rezultatov. Večina kritik je letela na nezanesljivost in počasnost naprav v primerjavi z izkušnjo na mobilnem telefonu. Foto: Humane Ai/Rabbit R1
Zaradi delne okvare sluha, nisem velik pristaš klasičnih slušalk, saj zaprejo uho, posledično ne slišim okolice, kar ustvari neprijeten odtujen občutek. V zadnjem času pa sem postal pozoren na nove, slušalkam podobne naprave, ki ponujajo prenos zvoka preko lobanjske kosti, uho pa ostane odprto. Uporabnik tako kljub predvajanju zvoka, lažje komunicira z okolico.
Druga zanimiva alternativa so ovratni zvočniki, ki zvok usmerijo samo k uporabniku in ne motijo okolice. Verjetno je le vprašanje časa, kdaj bodo ti izdelki dobili še dodatne senzorje, video kamero in umetno inteligenco.
Kostno prevodne slušalke so priljubljene pri športnikih, saj ostanejo na mestu tudi ob potenju, poleg tega uporabnik lažje sprejema dražljaje iz okolice. Foto: Shokz
Ovratni zvočnike uporabniki uporabljajo za bolj poglobljeno izkušnjo gledanja filmov, brez povečanja jakosti zvoka na televiziji. Foto: Sony
Pravi projekt bo seveda humanizacija teh naprav, oziroma izziv, kako spraviti vse komponente v prijetno diskretno ohišje, saj ljudje z napravami na obrazu hitro delujejo precej robotsko oziroma kiborgovsko.
Najprej sem poiskal predmete, ki imajo sorodno funkcijo ali obliko: obroč za lase, ovratna bralna lučka. Preprosto si je predstavljati, da so LED diode kamere. Foto: Metod Burgar
Bodo zaokrožene površine kaj pomagale, da bo koncept kostno prevodnih slušalk s kamero in umetno inteligenco izgledal bolj prijetno? Foto/koncept: Metod Burgar
Moj koncept naglavnih, obglavnih in vglavnih pametnih naprav. Je dodatek na glavi, res nekaj na kar se bomo morali navaditi? Upajmo, da ne. Foto/koncept: Metod Burgar
Rdeča lučka za snemanje še vedno deluje malce srhljivo, ne glede na to kako majhna je. Foto/koncept: Metod Burgar
Včasih so najboljše tudi najenostavnejše ideje. Modni dodatek - AI metuljček. Foto/koncept: Metod Burgar, Chatgpt
Morda bi bil James Bond zadovoljen. Foto/koncept: Metod Burgar, Chatgpt
Prihodnost je zanimiva in razburljiva, ker jo je težko napovedati. Upam, da nove naprave ne bodo samo še ena nova platforma, ki nam bo preko priporočilnih algoritmov predvajala oglase. Želim si, da nas Sam Altman in Jony Ive razveselita z izdelki, ki ne bodo delovali le kot znanstvenofantastična tehnologija, temveč kot preprosta, intuitivna orodja, ki nas opolnomočijo in naredijo uporabniško izkušnjo dostojanstveno in človeško.
Are We Approaching a Future Without Mobile Phones?
What the next generation of AI-powered personal devices might look like.
What the next generation of AI-powered personal devices might look like.
May 23, 2025
OpenAI recently acquired the startup io—founded by legendary designer Jony Ive—for $6.5 billion. Together, they’re set to develop new devices that will bring artificial intelligence even closer to our daily lives. While details remain scarce, rumors suggest these products won’t rely on screens as a central interface—a radical departure from the smartphone as we know it. As someone who enjoys books, comics, and films that explore the future, I couldn't help but imagine what such devices might look like. With ChatGPT already handling communication increasingly well, it’s likely that future interactions will be primarily auditory and visual. If the goal is to gradually replace the smartphone, the new device will need to be compact, portable, and discreet.
OpenAI recently acquired the startup io—founded by legendary designer Jony Ive—for $6.5 billion. Together, they’re set to develop new devices that will bring artificial intelligence even closer to our daily lives. While details remain scarce, rumors suggest these products won’t rely on screens as a central interface—a radical departure from the smartphone as we know it. As someone who enjoys books, comics, and films that explore the future, I couldn't help but imagine what such devices might look like. With ChatGPT already handling communication increasingly well, it’s likely that future interactions will be primarily auditory and visual. If the goal is to gradually replace the smartphone, the new device will need to be compact, portable, and discreet.
Early attempts at standalone AI devices have been underwhelming.
Critics often cite their unreliability and sluggish performance compared to the seamless experience of a smartphone.
Image: Humane AI / Rabbit R1
Critics often cite their unreliability and sluggish performance compared to the seamless experience of a smartphone.
Image: Humane AI / Rabbit R1
Personally, due to partial hearing loss, I’ve never been a fan of traditional headphones. They cover the ears and isolate me from my surroundings, creating a disorienting sense of detachment. But recently, I’ve taken an interest in a new category of devices that transmit sound through the bones of the skull while leaving the ears open. This allows users to remain connected to their environment even while listening to audio. Another intriguing alternative is neckband speakers. They direct sound specifically to the user without disturbing others nearby. It seems only a matter of time before these devices evolve further—with added sensors, cameras, and integrated AI.
Bone-conduction headphones are especially popular with athletes: they stay in place even during intense activity and allow environmental awareness.
Image: Shokz
Image: Shokz
Neckband speakers offer a more immersive movie experience without needing to increase TV volume.
Image: Sony
Image: Sony
But the real challenge lies in humanizing these technologies—packaging all the components into a subtle and comfortable form. Devices worn on the face too easily make people look robotic or even cyborg-like.
I started by looking at everyday objects with similar shapes or functions—like a hairband or a neck reading lamp. It’s easy to imagine the LED bulbs becoming camera lenses.
Image: Metod Burgar
Image: Metod Burgar
Would soft, rounded surfaces make a device with bone-conduction audio, a camera, and AI feel more approachable?
Concept image: Metod Burgar
Concept image: Metod Burgar
Here are some of my own concepts for head-mounted, around-the-head, or even embedded smart devices. Is a head-worn accessory something we’ll simply have to get used to? I certainly hope not.
Concept image: Metod Burgar
Concept image: Metod Burgar
Even a tiny red recording light can still feel unsettling.
Concept image: Metod Burgar
Concept image: Metod Burgar
Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the most elegant—like this AI-enabled bow tie as a wearable fashion accessory.
Concept: Metod Burgar & ChatGPT
Concept: Metod Burgar & ChatGPT
Perhaps even James Bond would approve.
Concept: Metod Burgar & ChatGPT
Concept: Metod Burgar & ChatGPT
The future is exciting precisely because it’s hard to predict. I just hope these new devices don’t become yet another platform for feeding us ads through recommendation algorithms. I want to believe that Sam Altman and Jony Ive will surprise us with products that feel less like futuristic gadgets and more like intuitive, empowering tools—designed with dignity and humanity at their core.
And you? What do you think the future of personal devices looks like? Feel free to share your thoughts via email, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
