App-Free T-Phone That Leverages AI Showcased At MWC: Potential Use Cases And Challenges

In 2024, all companies seem to be jumping on the AI ​​train. While ChatGPT was shaking up the market in late 2022, other companies like Google and Meta were still working on their products. However, today, users have around a dozen AI-based chatbots available to them, including Google's Gemini, Microsoft's Copilot, Meta's Meta AI, and many others. However, AI is about more than creating large, intelligent language models that can provide results based on user-entered queries.

Here's how the Rabbit R1 works – and why it matters

Some companies aim to replace app-based smartphones with devices that run entirely on AI workflows and allow users to perform basic tasks. Earlier this year, startup Rabbit launched a rather unique AI-based device called Rabit R1. It is powered by the Large Action Model, which also forms the basis of the Rabbit operating system. This operating system consists of interfaces to perform tasks.

So the device can answer questions, launch Spotify playlists, book taxis and rides, manage other smart devices, and more. Coming to the technical specifications, the AI-powered gadget features a 2.3GHz MediaTek processor, 4GB of memory, and 128GB of storage. It also packs a 2.88-inch TFT touchscreen and an 8 MP night vision camera. Users also benefit from a dual microphone and speaker system.

Introducing the T-Phone, a device similar to the Rabbit R1, except in the form factor of a smartphone

We're talking about what the Rabbit R1 is and how it works, because T-Mobile's parent company Deutsche Telekom showed off a similar device, except it's a smartphone and it works without no app. You read correctly: a smartphone without applications! Called T-Phone, the device was developed in collaboration with Qualcomm and Brain.

Here's how users could use the T-Phone

The app-less phone can respond to user prompts, provide personalized recommendations, purchase products, send photos/videos to contacts, and perform other basic tasks. Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hoettges believes that no one will use apps in the next five to ten years. The company also believes that large, multimodal language models will become an integral part of devices.

Essentially, the concept of the phone consists of an AI-powered assistant that will take commands from the user and complete its tasks. For example, users can ask Assistant to take a photo and send it to friends. To achieve this, the device must rely heavily on cloud-based and on-device AI. In other words, the T-Phone is very similar to the Rabbit R1 device we talked about earlier, except that it has the smartphone form factor and hardware.

Potential Challenges T-Phone Might Face: User Interface and Constant Internet Connection

Although the concept is ambitious and brings conventional smartphones closer to emerging AI technologies, the device could face some major challenges.

The first challenge lies in the idea behind the phone: an app-less experience. For years, companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google have spent billions creating and improving operating systems, such as iOS, One UI (custom user interface), and stock Android. Plus, they've spent years perfecting their hardware to make everything intuitive. Therefore, placing the T-Phone as an alternative with no UI and a completely new user experience might be counterintuitive. Such devices often rely on large data processing, which could pose another threat to user privacy.

Last but not least, users may need to maintain a constant internet connection to use such a phone. Although these are just the first challenges that the device might face, we are in no way against the innovation and concept proposed by the company. In conclusion, it will take time before the technology presented with the phone becomes widespread, and when it does, how the company markets it and presents it to its audience will be key.

We have smartphones that offer AI-based features, but they allow people to use their favorite apps

By 2024, we will have smartphones integrating AI into core experiences. For example, the Galaxy S24 series has many built-in features that leverage on-device and cloud-based AI capabilities. However, the phone still has a conventional user interface that allows users to use their favorite apps and improves the in-app experience. For example, people like to consume content on OTT apps, spend time on social media apps, and order food or buy clothes on their favorite e-commerce platforms. Therefore, a phone that does not include them is difficult to imagine at the moment.

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