Because they now want to be companions, it seems that phones that listen are not enough. It’s possible that I’m getting cranky as I get older, or that I’m just getting used to seeing AI incorporated into every new product this year. However, when I saw the teaser video for the Honor Robot Phone, a concept that will be displayed at MWC in March, my reaction was “eh.” Our smartphones already monitor. Are they really required to observe and converse with us as well? This phone that looks like Wall-E seems to think so. I couldn’t help but watch the video again, despite my inner critic. Because I wanted to know whether a phone with a camera that doubles as a robot head is brilliant or completely insane.
What the Honor Robot Phone actually is
So, what is the Honor Robot Phone exactly? For now, we only have the teaser video to go on. But here’s what we do know: it has a built-in camera with gimbal-like rotation and tilting, similar to a miniature robot head. Whatever or whoever it is pointed at, it follows. Take into account the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, but with a smartphone inside. Honor refers to it as a concept device, which indicates that they are evaluating it to see if anyone like me will be interested. There are also numerous rumors of AI functionality. Therefore, the camera isn’t just moving for show; rather, it is meant to talk to and respond to humans. I’m a little impressed. I would love a phone that is a little smarter and more helpful for me as a working mother.
I’d be thrilled if it could use my open fridge to create a weeklong meal plan using only what I have on hand. Especially if I received a small robot acknowledgement that I had followed the recipes correctly. I can only hope because I lack specifics regarding that. Cool, but a little creepy as well. I comprehend why Honor refers to this as the future. This kind of tracking and moving phone could actually change how we interact with technology. The built-in gimbal might come in handy for creators, selfies would always look great, and video calls might be less awkward now. It appears quite clever on paper. On the other hand, I feel…uneasy when an AI phone literally keeps its eyes on me. Although I adore my gadgets, I’m not sure I’m ready for my phone to watch me. I could only hope that it would begin to advise me,
“Lauren, maybe skip the third cookie.” Even though the AI features are probably just trying to make life easier, I have to ask myself if we really want our phones to be companions rather than devices. It’s hard to strike a balance. We’ve seen with chatbots that technology that behaves like a human can be fun and useful at the same time. But once it’s in your phone, it becomes a presence and can affect hardware. Why we are so enamored with ancient technology Perhaps this has always been our direction. When we ask our phones for the weather, they respond, anticipate what we’ll type, and finish our sentences. Giving them a face, or at least something that looked like one, was the next logical step. Technology that behaves similarly to us is reassuring. Instead of being sterile and emotionless, it feels intimate and personal. As a result, we give our robot vacuum cleaners names, converse with Alexa like we would with a roommate, and rely on voice assistants to organize our lives.
The Honor Robot Phone takes this familiarity one step further by giving the AI in our phones a physical form. I suppose welcome to the future. The Honor Robot Phone is merely a concept and a glimpse into the future of mobile phones. It has the potential to alter how we film, communicate, and use our devices. It remains to be seen how much it interacts with humans as a companion. In the event that it does, I would anticipate that the devices would also have comprehensive privacy controls. So, yes, Honor wants to talk to you, follow you, and possibly even understand you through its robotic phone. I suppose welcome to the future. Additionally, it serves as a reminder that smartphones are beginning to interact with one another in addition to becoming smarter. More information will only be available at the MWC event next year. Following a launch event for Honor’s two Magic 8 flagship phones, the Robot Phone served as the “One more thing…” announcement. Later this month, they will go on sale in China, and they will be available worldwide before 2026.
