In this week's comments update, readers are discussing Nokia's nostalgic dumbphone that features a dedicated AI assistant button.
Launched by tech company HMD, these dumbphones were designed to stick with the simplicity and affordability of retro brick phones, while incorporating certain comforts of modern life.
"This is a pretty bold move for Nokia"
Commenters were split over the new Nokia phone.
"I'm all for dumbing the phone down," wrote JZ. "As for AI, yes there will be early adopters, but it's so clumsy at this point, imma wait."
On the same page, RK said, "speaking of ‘dumb', imagine how dumb you would have to be to trust the results given to you by an LLM chatbot and willingly share your data with a China-based AI company."
"Dumb-idea phones…" said Chris D, putting it simply.
Reader Michael Wigle took a more realistic perspective. "This is a pretty bold move for Nokia," he wrote. "I would think that consumers wanting a retro and limited phone interface would be the same people rejecting AI."
Other commenters were pleased with the design.
"This could be amazing for my grandmother who is almost blind," wrote Miles Teg. "I'm not usually a fan of products that lean heavily on AI gimmicks, but this one could actually be useful."
"Good," said Anil Kumar Pal accompanied by a thumbs-up emoji. "A very good Nokia phone."
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"What a waste!"
Another story engaging readers was the news that the Studio Fuksas-designed Rike Concert Hall in Tbilisi is set to be demolished.
"What a waste!" said The Discreet Architect. "Whatever you think about the design (I am not a fan), it is shameful that all that money, time, effort, material, and energy should be poured into a building that is never used and then just demolished like it has no value."
In agreement, RK wrote, "sadly a lot of these buildings had very little functional use… Immense waste, fuelled by vanity."
"The landscape thankfully matured and obscures this more today," said reader JZ. "A squandering to have built it and also to have to tear it down, but humans love to waste resources."
Craig Purcell chose to look on the bright side. "Perhaps we are returning to a sensible urbanism with buildings built to fit in rather than become statements of individuality," he wrote.
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"Quite stunning!"
A project that captivated most readers was the enveloping of Mandarin Oriental The Landmark hotel in Hong Kong by Neri&Hu with an "urban tapestry" facade.
"Quite stunning!" said Anthony Wong, expressing his enthusiasm.
Reader Ulisses Papa agreed. "What a gorgeous exercise in contained zest intertwined with sober elegance!" he wrote. "It not only features a beautiful facade but also invites the curiosity (and stay) of casual onlookers and guests alike."
"Colour and movement are always preferable to grey corporate stagnation," said Jb, concurring. "Looking to history and tradition will ignite creativity for those open to it."
Negative feedback was limited with Baid Isle calling the design "way too busy" and stating that "the colour is totally out-of-place in the city".
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Comments update
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