# Elon Musk predictions on smartphone obsolescence > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/elon-musk-predictions-on-smartphone-obsolescence > Updated: 2026-08-26T16:01:05.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2. Elon Musk has projected that traditional smartphones will become obsolete within approximately five to six years, potentially by 2030 or 2031, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. Speaking on the ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast, Musk described a shift toward devices acting as ‘peripheral nodes for AI inference.’ In this vision, hardware would be simplified to include primarily a screen and audio interface, lacking traditional operating systems and applications. Instead, heavy processing would be handled by remote servers where cloud-based and on-device AI work together to anticipate user needs and generate real-time video. Musk also connected these technological shifts to his work with Neuralink. He noted that while current milestones involve brain-computer interfaces helping patients with quadriplegia control computers through thought, such implants could eventually be adopted by the general public as the technology becomes safer and more advanced. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-26: Elon Musk predicts smartphone obsolescence by 2030 Elon Musk predicts smartphones will become obsolete by 2030-2031, replaced by AI inference nodes that rely on remote server processing instead of traditional operating systems and apps. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/elon-musk-predicts-smartphone-obsolescence-by-2030 ### 2026-08-24: Elon Musk predicts traditional smartphones will disappear within six years Elon Musk predicts traditional smartphones will be replaced by AI-driven peripheral nodes within five to six years, potentially integrating with Neuralink's brain-computer interface technology. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/elon-musk-predicts-traditional-smartphones-will-disappear-within-six-years --- Cite as: Elon Musk predictions on smartphone obsolescence. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/elon-musk-predictions-on-smartphone-obsolescence