A National Bureau of Economic Research working paper titled "Is the iPhone Birth Control?" claims the iPhone contributed to declining U.S. birth rates by reducing in-person interactions and increasing pornography consumption. The study examines AT&T user data from 2005 to 2011, covering the period when the iPhone was exclusive to that carrier. However, the paper acknowledges other smartphones — BlackBerry, HTC Tilt, and Nokia N75 — were also sold by AT&T during that window. Pornography search volume spiked in 2014 but returned to 2009 levels by 2024, undermining the causal narrative.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk denied reports that xAI prototyped a dedicated AI hardware device for investors, calling the claim "utterly false." This follows high-profile failures from Humane's AI Pin — which required a $24 monthly subscription — and the Rabbit R1. Apple is reportedly exploring a different approach: AirPods with cameras that feed environmental data to the iPhone for Apple Intelligence processing, avoiding standalone hardware.

OpenAI is also developing hardware with Jony Ive, signaling continued industry appetite for AI wearables despite consumer skepticism. The iPhone remains the central compute hub, with accessories extending its sensors rather than replacing it.