Will Neuralink replace iPhones in 10 years? Elon Musk thinks so

Elon Musk

Elon Musk believes your next phone might not be a phone at all — it could be inside your head.

Responding to Apple executive Eddy Cue’s bold prediction that iPhones might become obsolete in the next 10 years, Musk offered a one-word answer: “@Neuralink.” That’s the name of his brain-computer interface startup, which aims to connect human brains directly with computers.

Cue made the original comment during his testimony at the U.S. Department of Justice’s ongoing antitrust trial against Google. While discussing the future of technology, he said, “You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now, as crazy as it sounds.” He pointed out that AI is driving a major shift, opening the door for entirely new kinds of devices — and possibly, new competitors to Apple.

Musk’s response suggests he sees Neuralink as one of those competitors. Neuralink is developing a brain chip that could, in theory, allow people to interact with technology just by thinking — making smartphones, screens, and keyboards unnecessary.

While this might sound like science fiction, Musk has long claimed that Neuralink could help humans keep pace with rapidly advancing AI. The company recently began human trials of its brain implant, which is currently focused on helping people with severe paralysis control devices with their thoughts.

Cue’s comments also highlighted some trouble on Apple’s current horizon. He revealed that Safari searches — a major part of the company’s $20 billion-per-year deal with Google — have declined for the first time in over 20 years. That agreement, which makes Google the default search engine in Safari, is now under scrutiny.

So, while AI may be changing the future of smartphones, it’s also shaking up big business deals behind the scenes.