Elon Musk suggests that the future of personal technology might not involve phones at all — instead, it could be embedded directly in the human brain.
The idea came in response to a striking statement by Apple executive Eddy Cue, who recently said that the iPhone could become obsolete within the next decade. Cue made the comment during his testimony at the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust trial against Google. “You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now, as crazy as it sounds,” he said, citing the fast-paced evolution of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies that could redefine how people interact with digital devices.
Musk replied to the statement with a single word: “@Neuralink” — referencing his brain-computer interface company. Neuralink is developing an implantable brain chip designed to create a direct link between the human brain and computers, potentially eliminating the need for traditional devices like phones, screens, or keyboards.
Though the concept may sound futuristic, Neuralink has already entered the early stages of human testing. The current focus is on assisting individuals with severe physical limitations, enabling them to operate computers using just their thoughts. Musk has often said that such technology could eventually help humans stay relevant in a world increasingly dominated by AI.
Cue’s comments not only sparked futuristic speculation but also shed light on current challenges for Apple. He disclosed that web searches via Safari — a key component of Apple’s $20 billion-per-year search partnership with Google — have declined for the first time in over two decades. This deal, which sets Google as Safari’s default search engine, is now facing legal scrutiny as part of the antitrust case.
As AI continues to reshape the tech landscape, it’s not just hardware like smartphones that may evolve — massive business models and partnerships are also being reexamined. The future of how we access information and interact with technology could be on the verge of a revolutionary shift.
