Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Meta, has made a bold prediction regarding the future of mobile technology, suggesting that smartphones may soon become obsolete.

According to Zuckerberg, smart glasses are poised to become the main interface for interacting with the digital world within the next ten years, potentially rendering smartphones a relic of the past.

Zuckerberg's comments come as major tech companies, including Meta and Apple, invest billions of dollars into augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies aimed at transforming how consumers engage with digital content.

The industry appears to be in a race towards developing devices that could replace traditional smartphones entirely.

Currently, smartphones dominate personal schedules and social interactions while also shaping shopping behaviors.

However, users have expressed increasing fatigue due to the incessant notifications and the strain of prolonged screen time on their eyes.

Many are seeking alternatives that allow for a less intrusive digital existence.

Experts in the technology field argue that the next major innovation will not be an upgrade to existing smartphones but rather a complete transition to new devices that fundamentally change the way users communicate and consume information.

Zuckerberg envisions a future where people no longer need to take devices from their pockets.

Instead, all digital interactions—text messaging, calls, navigation, and entertainment—would seamlessly appear before the user’s eyes via smart glasses.

Meta's project 'Orion', unveiled at the recent Meta Connect 2024 event, has been described as the most advanced smart glasses to date.

The glasses will feature three-dimensional displays that overlay virtual images onto the real world, enabling users to send texts, make calls, and navigate without the need for a phone.

Unlike previous augmented reality initiatives, Orion is designed to completely replace smartphones rather than supplement them.

It incorporates eye tracking, voice commands, and hand gestures, allowing users to engage with digital content more intuitively.

In addition to Orion, Meta has partnered with the renowned eyewear brand Ray-Ban to produce smart glasses aimed at a broader audience.

The Ray-Ban-Meta smart glasses combine iconic Ray-Ban design with AI-enhanced technology, integrating cameras, speakers, and voice control into a fashionable frame.

While these glasses do not feature the sophistication of Orion, they represent a significant step towards the ubiquity of wearable AR devices.

If users become accustomed to utilizing glasses for listening to music, capturing photos, and making phone calls, a transition away from smartphones may appear more viable.

Meta is not alone in pursuing this vision; Apple's Vision Pro headset also marks a significant step in the evolution beyond smartphones.

Although larger in scale and focused on mixed-reality applications, its development indicates Apple's commitment to a future that transcends traditional mobile devices.

Other companies, including Google and Samsung, are also in the race to produce their AI-driven smart glasses, all aiming to liberate users from their mobile phones.

Despite these advancements, it remains uncertain how rapidly smartphones will be phased out.

Historical precedence indicates that older technologies do not vanish overnight, as landline phones continued to be used for many years after mobile devices gained popularity.

Additionally, some users still prefer desktop computers over laptops.

Thus, while smartphones may not disappear entirely, their appeal could diminish with the wider adoption of smart glasses.