Would you use a phone without apps? One of the largest mobile networks in the world believes so, but I’m not entirely convinced
I have a lot of apps on my phone. How much is ‘a lot’? A quick count reveals it’s an absolutely ridiculous 288. Of course, I only use a fraction of that, and I should probably clean up, but to be honest, I can’t imagine a phone without apps.
Maybe that means a new phone concept to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona isn’t for me, but maybe it is.
The result of a collaboration between artificial intelligence company Brain.ai and Deutsche Telekom, the new app-free phone is powered by Brain.ai’s Natural AI interface and is designed to change the way people interact with to ‘humanize’ their devices.
People-oriented smartphone
The new phone uses natural AI to dynamically create interfaces on demand, eliminating the need for countless apps. The AI acts as a concierge, taking over your tasks and handling the details. However, the question remains; Will consumers like me adapt to an app-less world?
“Artificial intelligence and LLMs will soon be an integral part of mobile devices,” said Jonathan Abrahamson, chief product and digital officer at Deutsche Telekom. “By working with Brain.ai, we can make our customers’ digital experience not only simpler but also more human. Our vision is a magenta concierge for an app-free and human-centric smartphone.”
For the showcase, practical examples will be integrated into Deutsche Telekom’s T Phone, which is already available. The company will also showcase another version of an AI smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Reference Design. In this model, the AI processing is done on-device, which reportedly makes the AI faster, more energy efficient, and better tailored to each user.
Despite what Brain.ai and Deutsche Telekom say about the new approach, the transition to an app-free future may not be as smooth as they predict. It remains to be seen whether consumers will embrace this new way of interacting with their devices. One day we will know more about the new telephone concept Mobile World Congress gets to work.