In early November 2023, Patently Apple posted a report titled "Former Apple Designers officially Introduced their company's first product called the Humane AI Pin, a completely new smartphone concept. This was the first time that I had heard of such a device relying on AI rather than a smartphone with traditional apps to perform an action or launch a service. Yet, it seems that it may me a new AI trend coming your way.

Today we're learning that at the Mobile World Congress 2024, Deutsche Telekom is presenting a visionary AI phone concept together with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Brain.ai. An assistant based on artificial intelligence (AI) replaces the countless apps on a smartphone. Like a concierge, the assistant understands your goals and takes care of the details.

"Book me a flight to the quarterfinals". The intelligent assistant obeys your query simply by voice command. The showcase uses concrete examples to demonstrate how an AI smartphone can make life easier when planning trips, shopping, creating video or editing photos.

Deutsche Telekom's generative interface powered by Brain.ai makes it possible. Using AI, it takes over the functions of a wide range of apps and can carry out all daily tasks that would normally require several applications on the device. The concierge can be controlled effortlessly and intuitively via voice and text.

Jon Abrahamson, Chief Product & Digital Officer Deutsche Telekom, is convinced: "Artificial intelligence and Large Language Models (LLM) will soon be an integral part of mobile devices. We will use them to improve and simplify the lives of our customers. Our vision is a magenta concierge for an app-free smartphone. A real everyday companion that fulfills needs and simplifies digital life."

AI for everyone

For the showcase, real-life use cases were integrated into Telekom's T Phone, which is already available. This underlines the Group's commitment of introducing innovations on devices that are already on the market and making them accessible to everyone. Together with Brain.ai, the pioneer of generative interfaces, an app-free interface is being created where the AI predicts and generates the next interface contextually, flowing with your thoughts.

Users can now focus on what they want, instead of how to get there. The AI is located in the cloud. On the one hand, this ensures an authentic and rewarding user experience and on the other hand it is accessible even on entry-level smartphones.

Deutsche Telekom is also showcasing another version of an AI smartphone powered by the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Reference Design. In the high-performance device, the AI processing is done on device. This makes the AI particularly fast, energy efficient and more customized to each user.

The partners' joint development teams are continuously working on implementing the concept. At the trade fair, the partners will show prototypes that demonstrate a possible future and bring it to life. It will take time until they are available for customers in the store.

Deutsche Telekom invites visitors to the MWC to experience the future of AI in mobile technology at its booth. As the company sets new standards and pushes the boundaries of innovation, Deutsche Telekom remains committed to reliability, privacy, and security to deliver the best AI customer experience.

Further, a Reuters report on this same subject stated that "CEO Tim Hoettges in a keynote presentation at the MWC tech conference in Barcelona stated: 'I can tell you that in 5-10 years from now, nobody from us will use apps anymore.'  

Examples of what the phone could do include responding to prompts and generating tailored recommendations for travel destinations, buying a product for its owner, or sending pictures and videos to contacts, the company said in a presentation.

"The showcased product reflects Deutsche Telekom's belief that multi- and crossmodal Large Language Models (LLMs) will soon become integral to devices, enhancing and simplifying the lives of its customers," Deutsche Telekom added.

Technology and telecom companies are launching new products and concepts at the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, hoping the buzz around AI will boost business prospects. Many experts say the technology can raise legal and ethical concerns."

You have to wonder if Apple will introduce building blocks resembling anything like this at WWDC24 in June. For now, apps rule on smartphones and will for years to come. Yet the AI services angle is likely to progress in a way that no smartphone OEM will be able to ignore going forward." 

As a Side Note: AI is on the mind of all tech companies and today a new paywall report by Digitimes is titled "iOS 18's AI function could help Apple breakthrough in challenging Chinese market."