OpenAI Develops AI Smartphone with MediaTek, Qualcomm

OpenAI is developing an AI-centric smartphone in partnership with chipmakers MediaTek and Qualcomm, aiming to shift user interactions from traditional apps to intelligent agents that handle tasks directly, with mass production slated for 2028.

The project, detailed by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo based on his research, involves custom processors designed to support advanced AI processing. Luxshare has been selected as the exclusive partner for system design and manufacturing. Specifications and final supplier decisions are expected by late 2026 or early 2027, positioning the device in the premium smartphone market, which sees annual shipments of 300 million to 400 million units.

At the heart of the initiative is a vision for an "AI agent phone," where users issue commands to complete needs rather than navigating multiple applications. Kuo described the approach as recognizing that "users are not trying to use a pile of apps. They are trying to get tasks done and fulfill needs through the phone." The device would employ a hybrid architecture, running simpler tasks and maintaining continuous context awareness locally through efficient power management and smaller AI models....