Apple Still Plans to Sell iPhones When It Turns 100

When Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded the company in a garage in Los Altos in 1976, no one imagined that half a century later Apple would be not only the world's most valuable brand, but also the foundation of modern communication. Today, as the Cupertino giant celebrates its 50th anniversary, the eyes of the entire world are turned toward what comes next. In an exclusive interview with WIRED, Apple's management clearly declared: the company not only plans to survive for decades to come, but intends to sell iPhones even when it hits the hundred-year mark.

This is a bold declaration in an industry where product lifecycles rarely exceed a decade, and technological revolutions can sweep market leaders away in just a few seasons. Apple's strategy, however, is based on the belief that the iPhone has ceased to be a mere gadget and has become a platform so universal that its evolution will continue for generations. The key to this longevity is to be deep integration with AI, which will redefine the role of the smartphone in everyday life.

Artificial intelligence as the new foundation of the ecosystem

In conversations with Apple's leadership, one common denominator emerges: Apple Intelligence. The company, which for years was criticized for allegedly falling behind in the AI arms race, now presents its approach as the most thoughtful and user-oriented. Instead of building abstract chatbots, Apple is focusing on systems that understand the user's personal context while maintaining rigorous data privacy.

For Apple, the AI era does not mean abandoning hardware in favor of cloud services. On the contrary, local processing of artificial intelligence tasks requires increasingly powerful integrated circuits, cementing the iPhone's position as the central processor of our lives. Cupertino engineers emphasize that designing their own A-series chips gives them an advantage that the competition lacks – the ability to perfectly match software to hardware to optimize generative functions.

Evolution instead of revolution of form

Although many analysts predicted the "end of the smartphone era" in favor of AR glasses or implants, Apple seems to believe in the form of a rectangular screen in the pocket. Of course, Apple Vision Pro and the development of wearable technologies are important, but the iPhone remains the economic and technological anchor. The company's management suggests that this device will undergo metamorphoses, becoming an increasingly discreet but still indispensable assistant.

Apple's vision for the next 50 years includes several key aspects of hardware development:

• Unmatched durability and sustainability: Striving for a circular economy where every new iPhone is made from materials recycled from previous models.
• Personalization at a biological level: Using sensors and AI to monitor health in ways that today seem like the domain of science fiction.
• Seamless connectivity: The iPhone as the key to the physical and digital world, eliminating the need for documents, wallets, or physical keys.

This approach shows that Apple is not afraid of cannibalizing its own products. If the iPhone's function is taken over by another format, Apple will ensure that format also bears the bitten apple logo. However, at this moment, in their view, the smartphone is the "ultimate tool" that has decades of dominance ahead of it.

Challenges in a post-smartphone world

Despite the optimism coming from Cupertino, the road to the hundredth birthday will not be paved with roses. Apple must face growing regulatory pressure worldwide, which strikes at the closed nature of their ecosystem. Opening the iOS system to third-party app stores or changes in payment standards are just the tip of the iceberg. The company must balance protecting its profits with adapting to the new rules of global digital trade.

Additionally, competition in the AI space is more aggressive than ever. Companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are setting a murderous pace of innovation. Apple must prove that its "Privacy-First AI" approach will not become a drag on the functionality that modern users, accustomed to instant answers and advanced content generation, expect.

Analyzing the statements of Apple leaders for WIRED, one can conclude that the company has ceased to be merely an electronics manufacturer and has become a provider of digital trust. In a world dominated by algorithms, their greatest asset is no longer just design, but the promise of security and predictability. It is this value that is meant to ensure that in 50 years, the next iPhone model – regardless of whether it is a phone or a neural interface – will still be a product desired by millions. Apple does not build gadgets for a season; it builds an institution intended to last forever, adapting to every technological storm.