Apple(US:AAPL) 3 6 Ke·2025-05-10 04:38Core Insights - Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior Vice President of Services, suggests that while the iPhone may not be needed in the future, Apple will find new pillars of support, indicating a shift towards AI hardware as a potential successor [1][3][17]. Group 1: Apple's Strategic Vision - Eddy Cue believes that one of Apple's wisest decisions was to discontinue the iPod, positioning the company to lead in future technologies rather than being replaced by them [3][17]. - The company is exploring AI hardware as a key component for its future, with products like Ai Pin being developed to potentially replace the iPhone [3][5][7]. Group 2: Ai Pin and Market Reception - Ai Pin, developed by Humane, was designed to challenge the iPhone with its innovative features, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip and various sensors, but faced significant criticism post-launch for poor user experience and technical issues [5][9][7]. - Despite initial hype, Ai Pin's launch resulted in negative reviews, leading to its service being halted and the company being acquired by HP [9][12]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Other AI hardware products, such as Rabbit R1 and Limitless Pendant, are emerging, focusing on specific functionalities rather than attempting to replace smartphones outright [10][12]. - Meta's Ray-Bans, featuring built-in AI, have seen significant sales, indicating a growing market for AI-integrated devices [12][14]. Group 4: Apple's Future Plans - Apple is actively developing its Vision Pro and plans to introduce smart glasses, with a goal of producing 1 billion AR devices by 2030 to replace the iPhone [14][15]. - Eddy Cue acknowledges the importance of AI search capabilities, indicating that Apple may integrate AI search options into its Safari browser, potentially shifting away from traditional search engines like Google [20][22]. Group 5: Industry Dynamics - The ongoing Google antitrust case highlights the competitive pressures in the tech industry, with AI search emerging as a significant future direction for companies like Apple [24][28]. - OpenAI's rapid growth in user engagement for its search capabilities suggests a shift in consumer preferences towards AI-driven solutions, although Google remains dominant in the search market [26][20].