Elon Musk predicts smartphone obsolescence by 2030

Elon Musk has projected that current smartphones will become obsolete between 2030 and 2031 due to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. During an appearance on 'The Joe Rogan Experience', the founder of Tesla, Neuralink, and xAI suggested that the next generation of devices will undergo a structural revolution in data processing rather than a physical hardware redesign.

Musk envisions a future where traditional operating systems and applications disappear. Instead, devices will function as “peripheral nodes for AI inference” with wireless connections. These future devices would feature simplified hardware—primarily consisting of a screen and audio capabilities—acting as an input and output interface for the user.

In this model, heavy processing and personalization would be delegated to remote servers equipped with AI. Musk stated, “The AI in the server will communicate with the AI in your device and generate real-time video of anything you can imagine.” He further noted that users would access services through AI rather than manual interaction, predicting that the device will anticipate user needs.