December 15, 2025, 9:08 PM EST. Venture capitalists say most consumer AI apps haven't found staying power, even as general-purpose LLMs gain traction. Early GenAI tools around video, audio, and photo fizzled once open-source models emerged, echoing a classic platform cycle: true consumer-scale breakthroughs require a period of stabilization before mass adoption. Experts compare it to the mobile era of 2009-2010, when platforms let bedroom experiments become giants like Uber and Airbnb. A new, ambient device could unlock the next wave, as opposed to smartphones that only see a sliver of daily life. Ideas range from a screenless pocket device to wearable AI rings or glasses, and even a personal AI financial adviser, signaling where the market might converge as platforms mature.
