Zuckerberg’s War on the iPhone

In a tech world long dominated by Apple, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has taken aim at a new target: the iPhone as the center of personal computing. In a memo and earnings commentary timed to perfection, Zuckerberg may have fired the first true salvo in what could become the next platform war. His weapon? A sweeping vision of AI-powered smart glasses as the future “primary computing device”.

On July 30, Zuckerberg published a manifesto titled “Personal Superintelligence,” in which he outlined his belief that AI is on the brink of superintelligence—a form of artificial general intelligence tailored to empower individuals. He wrote that future computing will live not in handheld screens, but in devices that see, listen, and respond—smart glasses. These, he declared, would replace smartphones as the dominant interface in daily life.

He further asserted that absent such wearable AI gear, people would be at a “significant cognitive disadvantage.”

Meta isn’t just talking. The company is pouring billions into the infrastructure to make this happen. It owns a 49% stake in Scale AI (~$14.3 billion) and plans AI data centers like Prometheus and Hyperion, each the size of Manhattan blocks. Annual capital expenditures for 2025 now top $66–$72 billion, heavily skewed toward AI infrastructure.

Meta stock rose approximately 9% following the update—investors cheered the clarity of the pivot.

Still, profitability concerns persist. Analysts note slower revenue and profit growth, powered by competitive pressure, TikTok’s ad traction, and uncertain returns on AI investments.

In blunt terms: Zuckerberg is relinquishing reliance on Apple’s iPhone ecosystem. By betting on glasses, Meta seeks to sidestep Apple’s App Store fees, privacy sandbox, and hardware constraints. Previously, Zuckerberg criticized Apple for lacking innovation, limited accessory support, and suppressing wearable integration, particularly with Ray-Ban AI glasses.

If realized, Apple’s dominance over personal computing could erode—substituted by a multimodal AI interface owned by Meta.

Meta’s Llama AI—once open source—now faces tighter licensing, citing safety concerns. Zuckerberg signaled the company may not fully open-source its future models, unlike earlier promises.

Zuckerberg’s announcement wasn’t marketing fluff—it was a fresh chapter in competition. He framed AI as a democratizing force, contrasting with rivals who allegedly envision automation reducing people to passive recipients of machine labor. Instead, he pitched a future of “personal empowerment.”

Expect Apple to accelerate its own AI/AR strategy, possibly unveiling Vision Pro successors or streamlined AI glasses. If smart glasses gain traction, we may see a shift away from swipe-driven wearables toward continuous ambient AI.Regulators may reexamine data collection and privacy standards if Meta’s glasses become ubiquitous.

Zuckerberg’s vision is bold, built on investment muscle and a clear sense of timing. He’s betting that AI and wearables will redefine personal computing—and unseat Apple’s long reign. Whether he succeeds will depend on execution: user trust, device comfort, battery life, AI reliability, and a compelling ecosystem no longer tethered to a screen.

For now, however, it’s safe to say: Meta’s not only challenging the iPhone—but reimagining what a “computer” could be.