Android founder Andy Rubin left Google two years ago. But that doesn’t mean he is totally out of the smartphone business. In fact, he put together a team to create what could be the next big tech thing: The AI Smartphone. Yes the AI smartphone: Andy Rubin’s hail mary.
Over the months, Rubin assembled a team of 40 people. Some come from Android/Google, but others come from Apple. He named the new company Essential and serves as the CEO. Their main product is a potential AI smartphone. We don’t know if Android or another company will run the software. Though the AI smartphone is in the beginning phase, it should have top notch hardware and software features.
But the big feature will be artificial intelligence. Rubin believes AI will be the next big trend in IT support and service. Some in Silicon Valley raised over $300 million to support the AI movement. And some of these support Rubin’s new smartphone. The screen should be at least 5.5 inches. Also, they’re testing pressure levels and industrial designs. Engineers build connectors that charge the battery and improve the phone’s quality. Furthermore, they’re working on a sphere camera. Here, the user can take 360 degree photographs.
However, for much of the project, Rubin remains silent. He really stays quiet on the AI part. Keep in mind it’s still early. Well, not that early. Rubin wants to release this AI smartphone in summer 2017. It should cost around $650. That’s the price of an iPhone 7. But Rubin is right about one thing: AI technology is getting popular. Last summer, thousands of Boston computer repair and techie fans attended an AI festival. They had so many AI gadgets there. So the market is definitely there. Rubin selected 40 of the brightest minds in tech to fulfill this purpose. So the human power is there. But is the market there? Would you ?buy a AI based smartphone?