Luo Yonghao and AIOS: The Future of Smartphones or an Exploration of Native AI Hardware?

Luo Yonghao and AIOS: The Future of Smartphones or an Exploration of Native AI Hardware?Alan Kay, a pioneer in computer science, once said, "People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware." Today, AI is penetrating various hardware fields at an unprecedented speed, continuously uncovering new application scenarios

Luo Yonghao and AIOS: The Future of Smartphones or an Exploration of Native AI Hardware?

Alan Kay, a pioneer in computer science, once said, "People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware." Today, AI is penetrating various hardware fields at an unprecedented speed, continuously uncovering new application scenarios. AI isn't simply software implantation; to better cooperate with large language models, hardware forms are undergoing profound changes. Smartphones, once tools integrating communication, entertainment, and work, are gradually evolving into carriers of large language models in the AI era, thus becoming more "intelligent."

Four years ago, the adjustment of Smartisan's smartphone business marked the end of its mobile phone era. ByteDance merged the new Stone Lab, formed by the original Smartisan team, into its education hardware team. Smartisan phones ultimately fell on the eve of the AI boom, a regrettable outcome. Luo Yonghao, the founder of Smartisan, who went through the "True Repayment Saga," set his sights on his next entrepreneurial directionAI hardware. While it seemed he would have no further connection with the mobile phone industry, his recent interactions with netizens have stirred ripples among old fans.

A loyal Smartisan phone user shared on social media that since May 20, 2014, he had successively replaced his T1, Smartisan R1, and Smartisan R2, with the R2 now becoming unusable. Since Smartisan no longer produces phones, he considered switching to Xiaomi. This post caught Luo Yonghao's attention. He replied, "It's hard to say. Simply making phones again is meaningless, but for AIOS...", and then quoted Alan Kay's famous saying, "People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware." A netizen commented, "Really? I want a beautiful one," to which Luo Yonghao affirmatively replied, "Yes, beauty is only the basic skill." This interaction sparked widespread anticipation. Will Luo Yonghao, for AIOS, once again enter the "non-traditional" smartphone sector?

Meizu's strategic transformation provides a reference. On February 18, 2024, Meizu officially announced the termination of new projects for traditional "smartphones," fully focusing on AI, creating AIDevice (AI devices), and reconstructing the Flyme system using AI. The subsequently released Meizu 21 PRO was officially called an "AI terminal." Meizu also proposed various AI strategies, including but not limited to de-appification and opening its hardware to large model teams like OpenAI to empower its AI hardware. Most impressive is Meizu's blueprint for AI devices, which mentions capabilities similar to "autopilot": the user issues a command, the AI handles the mechanized operations until the payment stage, then returns decision-making power to the user, saving a lot of complex interactions.

The AIOS-based hardware Luo Yonghao mentioned has a similar approach to Meizu and other phone manufacturers, making smartphones platforms for AIOS. As early as last year, Luo Yonghao's company, Fine Red Line, added "mobile terminal device manufacturing and sales" to its business scope, hinting at the possibility of his return to the mobile phone field. With the rich experience and supply chain accumulated during the Smartisan phone era, creating a new smartphone would theoretically not face many obstacles.

Besides emphasizing hardware aesthetics, Luo Yonghao hasn't revealed much substantial information, adding to the product's mystique. Currently, the possibility of Fine Red Line creating "smartphone-like AI hardware" exists, depending on actual demand. However, even if it looks like a smartphone, it will undoubtedly be built around AIOS and fundamentally different from a "traditional smartphone."

After transitioning from AR to AI, Fine Red Line launched its first product, the J1Assistant AI assistant. This product reflects a distinct "Smartisan style," integrating Smartisan Notes, Bullet Messaging, and the card-dealing feature, along with AI chat, showcasing Luo Yonghao's unique understanding of AI products.

Meanwhile, a device named "JARVISONE" appeared on the Matter website. This "native AI hardware," composed of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, fingerprint recognition, and microphone modules, has a design closer to the Rabbit R1-type "new species." However, such AI-centric native hardware is still in its conceptual stage, lacking a complete service system and significantly lower usability than mature smartphones. This is perhaps why Luo Yonghao might be revisiting the mobile phone business.

AI phones handle market expansion, while native AI hardware focuses on AI technology refinement, redefining the role of smartphones. The core idea of Meizu's All-in-AI strategy is to transform smartphones into platforms for AIOS. The current trend of AI in phones is clear, with major manufacturers actively integrating AI features. Early stages primarily focus on generative capabilities like AI-powered photo enhancement, AI writing, AI chat, and AI photography.

The next stage of AI phones is emerging, such as the "autopilot"-like function mentioned at the Honor Magic7 launch. Users input commands, and the AI assistant automatically executes steps, eliminating significant human-computer interaction and improving efficiency. This automation is achievable only with native AI operating systems, fundamentally different from AI systems improved upon existing system architectures.

In the long term, this automation will change user habits and affect the software ecosystem. As users interact less with software interfaces and screens, software will "retreat" to become a service, and screens will gradually "degenerate," eventually possibly evolving into native AI hardware like Rabbit R1 and JARVISONE. However, this evolution is lengthy; native AI hardware is developing too quickly, lacking sufficient service support and market recognition.

Therefore, AIOS needs a platform better suited to the current market, and smartphones are arguably the ideal choice. Products based on existing forms like phones and PCs are better suited for AIOS growth. Smartphones better meet current market demands, with stable and mature hardware and software ecosystems and a well-established consumer base. Any technology that isn't launched into the market, standardized, and systematically adapted, remains just talk, no matter how advanced.

For Luo Yonghao's Fine Red Line, smartphones are also an important platform for AIOS. For more people to know and use the JARVIS AI assistant, a widely known hardware carrier is needed. Furthermore, Luo Yonghao is a mobile phone expert with TNT, a concept that breaks boundaries between phones and large screens. Smartphones are far better at promoting AI than native AI hardware like JARVISONE. AI phones handle the market, and native AI hardware refines technology; this might be Luo Yonghao's approach.

Since its debut on January 9, 2024, the Rabbit R1's market performance has been mixed. Pre-orders exceeded 10,000 units within the first 24 hours, far surpassing Rabbit's expectations. By May 2024, cumulative sales surpassed 100,000 units, with prices on some second-hand websites multiplying several times, reaching as high as $1999. However, the market quickly realized that the Rabbit R1 was just a novelty tech product, with short battery life, slow response times, insufficient service support, an inability to provide effective suggestions, and even accusations of being an "Android shell"leading to numerous negative reviews. This "new species" didn't ignite new demand nor replace smartphones.

Products like the Rabbit R1 demonstrated simpler, more convenient, and more intelligent capabilities than smartphones, but their failure stemmed from insufficient service support and large model capabilities to support native AI hardware. They couldn't handle users' daily needs nor establish market recognition; after the initial hype, the product's drawbacks were exposed.

Luo Yonghao asked fans to prepare $299 for his AI product, but he may himself be uncertain whether JARVISONE can succeed in the current environment. In short, native AI hardware is too advanced, but the solution is clear: adapt to current market demands.

"People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware." We still don't know what Luo Yonghao's "non-traditional" AI device is, but it likely has some connection to smartphones. However, with his idealistic spirit, he won't easily compromise on "outdated product forms." In the mobile phone industry, Luo Yonghao has always been forward-thinking. When competitors were polishing metal back covers, Smartisan phones pioneered 3D double-sided glass back panels and introduced the first affordable shatterproof screen insurance. Many operating system interaction features are partly derived from Smartisan OS. Should Luo Yonghao create AI hardware in a smartphone-like form, he won't be ordinary.

Luo Yonghao might hope to create a product as revolutionary as the first iPhone in the AI era; this might be his initial goal for JARVISONE. But in a fiercely competitive market, "stability" might be more important than "success." The likelihood of him simply returning to his old business is low. We eagerly await his AIOS-powered, non-traditional smartphone.