Amid growing speculation around its hardware ambitions, OpenAI may be exploring a move into smartphones, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The report suggests the company could collaborate with MediaTek and Qualcomm to develop a dedicated smartphone chip, with Luxshare potentially serving as a co-design and manufacturing partner.
Unlike traditional smartphones, the proposed device could rely heavily on AI agents instead of apps, enabling tasks to be handled more autonomously. This approach may allow OpenAI to bypass ecosystem restrictions imposed by platforms like Apple and Google, which currently control app distribution and system-level access.
The shift toward AI-first hardware reflects a broader industry trend. Executives such as Carl Pei have also suggested that app-based ecosystems could eventually fade in favor of more intelligent, agent-driven interfaces.
Kuo notes that OpenAI’s potential smartphone would focus on continuously understanding user context, combining on-device AI models with cloud-based processing to manage different types of tasks. By controlling both hardware and software, the company could gain deeper insights into user behavior compared to standalone apps.
While specifications and supplier details are expected to be finalized by late 2026 or early 2027, mass production could begin as early as 2028. Earlier statements from OpenAI executive Chris Lehane indicated the company is also planning to launch its first hardware product in the second half of 2026, with previous reports pointing to AI-powered earbuds.
OpenAI has not officially confirmed these plans.
