Apple's Eddy Cue: iPhone could become obsolete in 10 years due to AI

Apple's senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, has suggested that the iPhone could become obsolete within the next ten years, citing the rapid development of artificial intelligence, The Verge reports.

Cue made the remarks during a court hearing against Google, which discussed antitrust measures against the company's dominance in online search. In his speech, the Apple executive stressed that the technology industry is changing dramatically under the influence of AI, which opens up new opportunities for startups.

"Incumbents have a hard time ... we’re not an oil company, we’re not toothpaste — these are things that are going to last forever ... you may not need an iPhone 10 years from now," he said.

Cue also recalled how Apple once discontinued the iPod, despite its wild success, calling it a bold and right decision that allowed the company to focus on new products.

While the iPhone still accounts for more than half of Apple's profits, Cue called artificial intelligence a "huge technological shift" that could change the balance of power in Silicon Valley. He cited former industry leaders HP, Sun Microsystems and Intel as examples that have lost influence or disappeared altogether.

Several companies are already trying to create an alternative to smartphones, including Meta, which is promoting glasses with integrated AI. Apple is also rumored to be working on similar projects, including AI features in watches, headphones, and smart glasses.