Zuckerberg’s AI bet: Can smart glasses replace the iPhone?
Mark Zuckerberg is making his boldest move yet to challenge Apple’s tech dominance—this time with AI-powered smart glasses. In a recent manifesto, the Meta CEO outlined his vision for “personal superintelligence,” where AI-enhanced glasses replace smartphones by seeing, hearing, and interacting with users in real time.
Zuckerberg has long dreamed of dethroning the iPhone, from failed VR pushes to augmented reality experiments. Now, he’s betting that AI—not screens—will define the next computing era. Meta is investing heavily, even offering $100 million pay packages to top AI researchers.
Apple, meanwhile, appears to be lagging in AI development, raising investor concerns. CEO Tim Cook insists the iPhone isn’t going anywhere, calling future devices “complementary, not substitutes.” But Zuckerberg sees an opening—smart glasses with built-in displays and AI assistants could eventually eliminate the need for smartphones altogether.
He’s not alone in this race. Amazon is acquiring wearable AI startup Bee, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman is working on a secret AI device with Apple’s former design chief. Yet Zuckerberg believes glasses—not bracelets or unknown gadgets—will win.
The stakes are high. If Meta succeeds, it could finally break Apple’s grip on the digital world. If not, Zuckerberg risks another costly bet in his decade-long quest to outmaneuver Cupertino. One thing’s clear: the AI war between tech giants is just heating up.