Apple Will Definitely Acquire or “Zuckerberg” This Startup.

Two former Apple employees are building the future of the iPhone, and Apple won’t watch this from a distance.

*Sitting in a cafe with your friend*

You: “Remember how smartphones were just… phones?”

Friend: “What makes you say that?”

You: “I got a notification on my Apple Watch, then started thinking about how Apple pretty much changed the game for smartphones.”

Friend: “Oh come on… they’re not the only ones with a smartphone.”

You: “Sure, but realistically… When someone says smartphone, an iPhone is what most people imagine, no?”

Friend: “True. It feels like they’ve climbed to the top and won’t budget for anyone else.”

You: “Exactly. Every time someone new comes, Apple says, ‘Nice try, now watch this.”

Friend: “How do you think they stay ahead?”

You: “It’s a mix of innovation and imitation, with a sprinkle of ‘We’re Apple. We’ll find a way.’”

Friend: “An Apple a day keeps competitors away…”

You: “…”

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iPhone’s Legacy — From Revolution to Routine

I was rewatching the first iPhone announcement, where Jobs claimed Apple was introducing three revolutionary products:

• “A widescreen iPod with touch controls”
• “A revolutionary mobile phone”
• “A breakthrough internet communicator”

“These are not three separate devices… This is one device… And we’re calling it iPhone.”

Jobs promised to reinvent the phone, and Apple delivered.

Since introducing that device with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, iPhones, and smartphones in general, have evolved dramatically. Back then, every new version introduced breakthrough features, keeping Apple in the lead while the industry played catch-up.

Eventually, innovation dulled as the market saturated. The rate of utter disruption slowed, and iPhones changed less. So did iPhone sales. Fewer people needed “The newest iPhone.”

As iPhones became more of an ‘iteration’ than a ‘revolution,’ Apple realized that they needed to do more than add another camera or remove the notch to keep their lead. So, they kept an eye on emerging tech territories for ‘inspiration.’

Apple’s All-Seeing ’i’

That’s not a new gadget. It’s a strategy.

Apple has been known to watch the tech landscape like a hawk, setting its sights on the startups shining with potential.

Apple wasn’t window shopping. When they saw something they liked — they would play one of two cards:

Acquire: Given Apple’s massive cash reserves, there’s no limit when it comes to how big a company it can buy.

It wasn’t just buying out the competition. Apple was acquiring new tech and talent to drive its ever-expanding stack of services:

• Think about their $3B acquisition of Beats in 2014 — boosting Apple Music’s services to compete with Spotify.
• Or their $360M acquisition of Primesense in 2013, whose 3D sensing technology powered Face ID features.
• Even Siri was acquired by Apple in 2010 for an amount estimated to be over $200M

Imitate: Taking a page straight out of Zuckerberg’s book, Apple would simply develop its own version of whatever startup caught its eye. Due to their ‘market-leader’ advantages, it usually succeeded too.

• Think about ‘Apple Pay Later’, they didn’t invent that.
• What about the Apple Watch?
• The list goes on…

So it’s obvious that Apple isn’t satisfied with keeping up; it wants to stay ahead, and in this high-tech game of chess, AI is the queen everyone wants to control.

AI’s Wild Card: Shuffling the Tech Deck

Like a new player at the poker table, AI is raising the stakes. Apple’s strategic AI acquisitions (over 20 startups since 2017) signal its ambition not to compete — but to lead this revolution.

We’re not talking about Siri learning new tricks. We’re talking about a paradigm shift in how we interact with our phones.

Think about it: AI could transform our phones from smart to borderline sentient! Constantly evolving to predict user needs and optimize interactions. AI’s impact could be just as big as the original iPhone’s debut, if not bigger.

And in this AI-powered world, there’s a new star on the horizon: Humane AI. More than just another startup, it’s a potential game-changer built by the people who helped write Apple’s playbook.

Humane’s Rise: Backed Tech’s Elite

Founded by two ex-Apple executives who were responsible for some of the company’s most groundbreaking innovations, Humane wants to end the age of smartphones, and their first product, The Ai Pin, is a step towards that future.

Humane’s powerhouse team stems from tech giants like Google, Meta, and Apple. In fact, nearly 40% of the team worked at Apple.

The Ai Pin — unveiled at Paris Fashion Week, is a wearable personal assistant with unique features, like its ‘Laser Ink Display’ that projects its ‘screen’ onto your hand. It’s a big step away from traditional screen-based interactions.

But how realistic is that? Screens have become embedded into our daily lives. Go and look at your phone’s screen time stats. Can you imagine it being 0?

I won’t get into detail (Don’t be lazy; check out their website), but the Ai Pin does have some cool features that feel like they’re from a sci-fi series.

Humane raised $230M from elite investors like OpenAI’s Sam Altman and VC Lachy Groom. They’ve strategically partnered with companies like Microsoft, T-Mobile, and OpenAI to facilitate their vision of a “More intelligent and more personal” future.

Apple’s Strategic Crossroads: Acquisition or Competition?

Apple won’t stay silent as the Ai Pin opens new grounds for personal AI devices. Beyond its threat, the Ai Pin could synergize well with Apple’s products.

An acquisition, despite past tensions with Humane’s co-founders, might be in the cards for Apple.

Alternatively, Apple’s history of absorbing AI startups hints at an in-house response to rival Humane. Imagine Apple’s countermove: ‘The iBadge,’ with features suspiciously similar to the Ai Pin.

Apple’s decision is critical and could define the next phase of smartphone evolution.

That’s what my crystal ball says. Now, the stage is yours: How do you think Apple will respond to Humane’s challenge? Is the Ai pin just a cool gimmick, or are we looking at new frontiers? How do you see AI reshaping consumer tech? Let’s discuss.

I’m AL, a business consultant in Zurich, Switzerland. I believe in the power of delivering value to you, the reader. Follow me on various social media platforms if you’re interested in the value of my content.