What’s happening
Phones, laptops, cars and industrial equipment increasingly contain AI chips. Small AI models capable of running on devices are improving rapidly.
Timing: LATER — roughly 3–10 years before this becomes structural.
Why it matters
Many uses — a self-driving car, a factory safety system, a medical monitor — can’t wait for a round-trip to the cloud. Local AI also keeps sensitive data where it’s created.
What would make it real
- Capable AI runs on inexpensive devices
- Easy ways to update and secure AI across millions of devices
- Industries build products that depend on local AI
What would kill it
- Cloud AI stays far more capable
- Security weaknesses in many connected devices
- Power and cost limits on small hardware