What happens when the very person who helped design your iPhone says: “Screens are over”? That’s the bold prediction from Imran Chaudhri, former lead designer at Apple and co-founder of Humane, a company now at the frontier of ambient computing.
His message? The next generation of technology won’t live behind glass—it will live around you.
Who Is Imran Chaudhri?
Imran Chaudhri spent over 20 years at Apple, helping shape the interface of the original iPhone. His work influenced everything from multi-touch gestures to home screen layouts.
Now, as co-founder of Humane, Chaudhri is pioneering tech that exists without screens, keyboards, or even smartphones.
“The future is not on your phone. It’s not even in your pocket. It’s with you,” — Imran Chaudhri, TED 2023
👓 What Is Screenless Technology?
Screenless or ambient computing refers to devices that:
- Use AI, sensors, voice, and projection to interact
- Can speak, see, and understand context
- Are designed to blend into your environment—not distract from it
At the heart of this vision is Humane’s AI Pin, a wearable device that projects a screen onto your hand and responds to voice and gestures. It’s designed to replace your smartphone.
📌 Watch Chaudhri demo the AI Pin at TED
📉 Why Say Goodbye to Screens?
According to Chaudhri and others in the space, screens:
- Steal attention from the real world
- Cause digital fatigue and burnout
- Lock users into addictive visual interfaces
- Are barriers rather than bridges to meaningful interaction
The goal isn’t just less screen time—it’s a complete shift in how we engage with technology.
🔮 Implications for the Tech Industry
If Chaudhri’s predictions take hold, this could reshape:
- Product design: Fewer glass rectangles, more wearable, contextual devices
- User interfaces: Voice-first, gesture-controlled, projected or invisible UIs
- Privacy: A new wave of ethically designed AI companions
It also opens the door for companies like Meta, Apple, Google, and Humane to compete on presence, not pixels.
🧠 What Skeptics Are Saying
Critics argue that:
- Screens are still essential for creatives, gamers, and multitaskers
- Projected displays lack clarity and precision
- Ambient AI could increase surveillance and reduce user control
There are also concerns about accessibility, hardware costs, and the readiness of mainstream users to adopt a paradigm shift.
📎 Internal Links
- Apple’s Secret Plans for a Post-iPhone Future
- AI Pin vs Smartphones: What’s the Difference?
- How Ambient Computing Could Reshape UX Design
🔗 External Resources
- Humane Official Website
- Imran Chaudhri’s TED Talk on the Future of Computing
- Wired: Inside the Post-Screen Revolution
Final Thoughts
When the designer of the iPhone says the screen era is over, it’s worth paying attention. While we’re not tossing our phones tomorrow, the rise of screenless tech, ambient AI, and wearable interfaces could very well signal the next chapter of computing—one where the best technology is the kind you don’t see.