When OpenAI announced plans to launch a compact screenless device by the end of 2026 with a target shipment of 100 million units, the entire technology industry was electrified. This announcement not only signifies the birth of a new product but marks a collective bet by tech giants on a “screen-free” AI hardware future.
From Phones to Screenless Devices: A Fundamental Shift in Interaction Paradigm
For a long time, smartphones have been the primary interface between humans and the digital world. However, this interaction method has inherent limitations—users must actively take out their devices from pockets, unlock the screen, and find the corresponding application. Tech companies are realizing that a true AI assistant should be as ubiquitous as air, rather than trapped behind a glass screen.
OpenAI is collaborating with MediaTek and Qualcomm to develop mobile processors, with mass production expected in 2028. But more noteworthy is CEO Sam Altman’s hint that the “ultimate form may not look like a phone we’re familiar with at all”—instead, it would be an AI terminal without apps, relying entirely on voice interaction.
Apple is equally accelerating development of its first AI smart glasses, codenamed “N50.” To pursue lightweight design, this device abandons the display screen, adopting a dual-camera solution supporting gesture control, while offloading computing tasks to paired iPhones for power balance. Apple’s designers are testing various frame styles, aiming to make the product look more like fashionable everyday glasses rather than tech gadgets.
Meta Ray-Ban Has Already Validated the Market
In this screenless AI hardware race, Meta has established an absolute lead with its Ray-Ban series. Data shows that Ray-Ban smart glasses currently hold 85.2% of the global smart glasses market—a figure intimidating enough to pressure any competitor.
Meta’s new AI model, Muse Spark, has begun embedding into the smart glasses ecosystem, significantly enhancing the device’s multimodal understanding capabilities. Users can not only use it for calls and music but also have the AI assistant “see” objects in front of them and provide descriptions or suggestions. This leap from “hearing” to “seeing” transforms smart glasses into a genuine “second brain” for users.
Supply Chain Challenges and Domestic Opportunities
The rapid development of screenless AI hardware is reshaping the upstream supply chain landscape. The exponential growth in AI computing demand has driven the optical communication chip market.
Domestic manufacturer Everbright Huaguang’s VCSEL and optical communication chip product lines saw revenue surge 1036.79% year-over-year in 2025, demonstrating explosive growth.
However, hidden concerns exist behind this high growth. The manufacturing process for high-end EML chips is more than three times more complex than traditional laser chips, with core patents almost entirely monopolized by international giants.The domestic localization rate remains below 10%. Global high-end production capacity has been locked through 2028, constituting a core bottleneck for screenless AI hardware mass production.
For Chinese enterprises, this presents both challenges and opportunities. At the Dreame AI smart ring booth at the Canton Fair, on-site contract amounts exceeded one million RMB, demonstrating robust international demand for domestic screenless AI products.
From Health Monitoring to Children’s Education: Scene Applications for Screenless Design
Screenless design is finding product-market fit in specific segments.
In the health wearable sector, Dreame’s AI smart ring weighs only 2.6 grams, delivering an ultra-light, barely noticeable wearing experience. It integrates multimodal sensors to collect round-the-clock health data and leverages AI algorithms for professional analysis. This lightweight solution is highly appealing to health-conscious users who dislike bulky wearable devices.
The children’s hardware market also favors screenless design. Seewo’s Seedpace AI interactive story machine for the North American market features no screen as its defining characteristic, using story cards and audio interaction to engage children while allowing parents to manage content through an app. This design directly addresses parents’ concerns about screen harm.
The Future Contest: Replacement or Supplement?
Despite the enthusiasm from tech giants, whether screenless AI hardware can truly replace phones remains uncertain. Currently, screenless devices are more likely targeting the “scenario gaps” that phones cannot cover—during exercise, commuting, or when hands are occupied. These scenarios require quick responses and information access rather than deep immersion.
The real test lies in user experience. Technical maturity, user habit cultivation, commercial pricing, and other factors will determine the ultimate fate of this emerging category. OpenAI’s first device is expected to be priced between $200-300; whether consumers will embrace it remains to be seen in the next 12 months.
When AI steps out of screens and integrates into everyday items like glasses, rings, and necklaces, our way of interacting with the digital world may undergo fundamental change. This race, just beginning, deserves continued attention.
