I think the author is describing how the smartphone became revolutionary for uses that were beyond its initial incarnation.

If you look at the sentence in context, the preceding paragraph says it is the smartphone that "became the basis of a wide range of powerful new tech applications, from messaging to ride-sharing to payments." I think the author was trying to say that having the world respond to your "desires nearly automatically" might open similar "new tech vistas." That's how I read it anyway.

Also, please consider the new Hacker News guideline against gratuitous negativity.