I love the buttons. I like them in the car (sorry, touch screen), I like them in the game (sorry, iPad touch screen controls), I like They are on my phone. Obviously, I am not alone, and the love for phone buttons is being paid attention to by more and more phone manufacturers. Even Apple, all its contribution to the touch screen world, is hopping on the tangible train, adopting action buttons, its programmable keys to start whatever you want, as well as camera controls that control your camera (duh), including shutters, launching the camera app, and more.
But, as much as I love the buttons on my phone, I haven’t quite come across a button and it seems to be the next big push on your phone, I’m talking about the new “AI” buttons for fashion. AI buttons are real, physical, touching keys, they are exactly what they sound like, they trigger AI features. In recent months, more and more mobile phones have adopted them.
Nothing is a “required key”, it is the button on the side of the company’s phone (nothing and It can view your actions on the device and take some actions, such as the Phone 2 Pro). For example, if you are looking for tickets for a show, you can smash the basic keys and then tell your phone to remind you to buy tickets later.
Similarly, Motorola and its high-end RAZR Ultra Flip Style foldable include a “AI key” that triggers many AI features, such as “Next Move”, which can automatically open the app or provide advice based on what you were doing on your phone at the time. It also activates AI features such as “Look and Talk”, which combines Moto AI with voice assistants to help you use your phone for free while in “Tent Mode”.
And the dedicated button party is more than that. Just this week, OnePlus announced its 13S phone, which no longer uses the company’s signature alert slider switch, in favor of the Plus key button. In OnePlus’ defense, the plus sign is similarly universal and programmable, such as Apple’s action buttons, but it also seems to be working hard to activate the AI Plus Mind, a feature that is very similar to the Nothing Nothing Essession Space.
Smarter than ever. The new Oneplus Aimi – Come smartly #OnePlus13S
June 5, 12 noon.
Know more: pic.twitter.com/6uv8rrz5bq
– OnePlus India (@OnePlus_in) May 27, 2025
On the one hand, all this makes sense. According to * Checks Notes *, AI is the next big thing* Now, all the people who make gadgets will certainly provide information for the hardware and software. On the other hand, there is a big problem with the entire AI button craze, which is that many people are not really using AI to justify a full butt button. A recent poll conducted by CNET shows that the vast majority of people (73% of iPhone users and 87% of Samsung users to be exact) able Using AI on their devices says they think these features are worth little to no value for their general phone experience. Compared to the fact that cell phone manufacturers think AI features are important enough, emotions are enough to stand in the power/lock button level (this is the fact).
This is not the only downside of AI buttons. There is also the fact that this new button may actually be a sinister billboard for AI and AI subscriptions. According to Android Authority’s dismantling of basic space apps in March, monetization plans may be doing nothing. While the company has no official signs that it intends to turn the basic space into a money-making machine, the company’s AI applications may not be cheap, according to the disassembly machine. The disassembly shows that nothing can charge $120 to use the base space, although it is not clear whether this is an annual subscription or a one-time fee.
I like the next nerd’s body button, but I’m not sure if AI will rise when you deal with the limitations of the physical world and the limitations of practicality associated with it. Maybe it will change, Apple Smart will soon guarantee a coveted position next to camera controls, but for now, I think most of your AI button presses can be the result of an accident while trying to do something really useful, like locking your phone.
