Our Audio Future
A 2026 tech prediction that I totally missed.
I just hit send on my 2026 Tech Predictions when, this appears from Connie Loizos at TechCrunch:
The move reflects where the entire tech industry is headed — toward a future where screens become background noise and audio takes center stage. Smart speakers have already made voice assistants a fixture in more than a third of U.S. homes.
The form factors may differ, but the thesis is the same: audio is the interface of the future. Every space — your home, your car, even your face — is becoming an interface.
Doh, this was a layup and I totally missed it in my predictions.
Although I have written about my own desire for an audio-first interface:
But I know there are times when I would be open to a form factor that isn’t a phone that can capture my thoughts and tasks.
Which is why, at least for me, an AI pendant is intriguing.
Imagine taking a walk with your dog, or a hike, and you get an idea for something that you want to capture quickly. Wouldn’t it be great to do that without pulling out your phone, in a way that either perfectly transcribes your text, or summarizes the essence of your text for a future use, maybe in a notes app or in a task manager?
And my appreciation of WisprFlow:
WisprFlow - I thought I was a fast typist, but dictating everything, from emails to Slack messages to texts, is much faster.
In any event, I look forward to seeing how AI leans into audio interfaces in 2026. Look for some upcoming writing (from me) on how I’m using my mobile screen less and less. Sign up below if you want to know when these new posts when they go live.
