OpenAI could be making a phone with AI agents replacing apps
TechCrunch • • business
Key Points:
- Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that OpenAI is potentially developing a smartphone in partnership with MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Luxshare, with Luxshare handling co-design and manufacturing.
- The smartphone may rely on AI agents instead of traditional apps, allowing OpenAI to bypass restrictions imposed by Apple and Google on app functionalities.
- OpenAI’s device is expected to continuously understand user context and combine on-device AI models with cloud computing to manage various tasks, giving the company deeper access to user data.
- The phone’s specifications and suppliers are anticipated to be finalized by late 2026 or early 2027, with mass production slated for 2028.
- OpenAI previously indicated plans to launch its first hardware product, likely earbuds, in the second half of 2026, but has not commented on the smartphone rumors.
