From Nokia keypads to AI intermediaries
Originally posted on LinkedIn, December 31, 2025.
In just twenty years, we went from pressing the same number three or four times on a Nokia to reach the right letter to saying a sentence out loud and having our phone write it for us with almost no effort. We moved from precise manual control to intuitive actions that happen faster than thought. That changed our entire relationship with technology and interpersonal communication.
We also used to call a friend’s home and ask their mother if they were there. Today, calling someone can feel almost like an invasion of privacy. Most people prefer a short WhatsApp message, preferably not a voice message, because even that has become taboo. In two decades, we moved from continuous voice communication toward minimum friction: less interruption, fewer intermediaries, and more control over each person’s time.
As 2025 ends and 2026 begins, AI and robotics will push this further. Maybe in 2026, your AI will read posts written by my AI without either of us even knowing. Happy New Year 🥂