Tech firms put AI assistants at the centre of new devices
A podcast episode discusses the strategy tech giants are adopting as they launch new devices, with AI assistants positioned at the centre of their computing vision. The discussion examines whether companies like Microsoft, Amazon and Apple have correctly identified artificial intelligence as the future of computing, or if this approach is fundamentally flawed.
The episode covers specific devices including Microsoft's new Surface laptop, Amazon's Android tablet and Google's AI-centred computing approach. The discussion also touches on the Paramount-Warner acquisition and its implications for streaming, as well as the emerging concept of "intelligent UI" in hardware design.
- Major tech firms putting AI at the centre of new devices
- Podcast questions whether this is computing's actual future
- Discusses Microsoft, Amazon and Google's competing visions
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Tech companies including Microsoft, Amazon, Apple and Google are redesigning their computing devices to make artificial intelligence central to how they work. Rather than AI being an extra feature bolted onto existing products, these firms are building AI assistants directly into the core of new hardware and software, fundamentally changing how users interact with their devices.
This represents a significant shift in how the technology industry approaches innovation. These companies believe AI will transform computing in the way the internet and smartphones did, making it the organising principle of future devices rather than a secondary tool. The outcome of this strategy will likely shape the computing landscape for years to come.
However, there is genuine debate about whether these firms have correctly identified computing's future direction. Some argue that centring AI in devices represents the natural evolution of technology, whilst others question whether this approach meets what consumers actually need or want from their devices.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those supporting AI-centred devices argue that artificial intelligence represents a genuine breakthrough in human-computer interaction, offering intuitive, context-aware assistance that traditional interfaces cannot match. They contend that AI can automate routine tasks, personalise user experience, and adapt to individual needs more effectively, driving productivity and user satisfaction forward. Proponents see this as the natural evolution of computing and believe early market positioning will prove decisive.
The case against
Sceptics argue that companies are overstating AI's current capabilities and prioritising hype over genuine user benefit, given persistent problems with accuracy, context understanding, and reliability. They worry that making AI central before it is ready risks creating frustrating experiences and shifting computing towards data collection and vendor dependency rather than serving user autonomy and control. This approach, critics suggest, reflects competitive pressure and venture-capital momentum more than technological necessity.
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Originally published by The Verge as “The AI is in the computer”.