Four of the world’s most powerful technology leaders are in a race to replace the smartphone with devices that look straight out of science fiction. But one of the race’s protagonists refuses to abandon the device that defined modern life.
In Silicon Valley, a silent revolution is taking shape. From brain chips to digital skin, the future of interaction between humans and computers may already be unfolding. And it is the same innovators who built the digital era who now imagine a world for beyond the smartphone itself.
For Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman and Bill Gates, the next technological leap does not go through cell phones more elegant; passes by eliminate them completely.
Each of these billionaires invested in emerging ideas that could make the smartphones obsoletos.
Brain implants, digital tattoos and augmented reality glasses all point to a future where people connect not via touch screensbut through thought, vision or even your own skin. It’s a bold step into unexplored territory, and not everyone is ready to take it.
To of Elon Musk is developing brain-computer interfaces that allow users control machines with thought. According to the company, two individuals are already using their implants.
The company’s ambition is eliminate physical interaction completely with devices — no tapping, no swiping, no talking. Just think.
Nonetheless, Bill Gates is supporting another vision of the future through Chaotic Moon, a Texas-based startup that is designing .
Estes wearable electronic circuits collect and transmit data through nano-sensorsenabling health monitoring, communication and location sharing; the human body itself becomes a digital platform — a living device that does not need to be held or carried.
Mark Zuckerbergfounder and CEO of Meta / Facebook, is betting heavily on augmented reality glasseswho thinks that — although his presentation didn’t go exactly well.
Zuckerberg predicts that, by 2030, these glasses will become the main computing device, completely replacing smartphones. Instead of looking down at a screen, users will see messagesnavigation tools and notifications appear in your field of vision.
This approach reflects the Zuckerberg’s broader ambitions in augmented reality and metaverso. His vision is to go “beyond the screens” and transform the way people interact with the internet — and with each other.
But while its competitors pursue radical advances, Tim Cookthe CEO of Apple, remains true to his philosophy of evolution instead of revolution.
The latest iPhone 16 introduces smarter AI and greater ease of use, but maintains classic design trusted by millions of users. Cook argues that improvement matters more than reinvention — and that the iPhone remains at the center of modern life.
O Apple’s method focuses on gradual progress: improve existing products while integrating technologys such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence.
Unlike his competitors, Cook sees the smartphone not as outdated, but as the foundation for the next era of innovation. “We are committed to improving what people already use,” he said, reiterating Apple’s conviction in constant evolution rather than disruption.
This divide between the paths tech giants are taking isn’t just about product design — it’s about how humans should interact with technology itselfa.
Musk, Zuckerberg, Altman and Gates imagine a world where devices merge with our minds, eyes and bodies. Apple, on the contrary, believes that the future lies in adapting what we already havenot in abandoning it.
Regardless of which side wins, one truth is clear: the race to redefine the smartphone is reshaping the way we think, work and connect — and the next revolution may no longer fit in your pocket.
And although Tim Cook’s vision is interesting, it is still dissonant with that of his company’s founder, Steve Jobs, whose crazy and disruptive ideasalmost always considered impossible before they became reality, ended up change the world we live in — multiple times.
