OpenAI reportedly developing AI smartphone with Qualcomm

According to Kuo, who posted his findings connected X, Qualcomm and MediaTek person been tapped arsenic spot improvement partners, with Luxshare filling the relation of exclusive strategy co-design and manufacturing spouse for the device. Kuo enactment the timeline for wide accumulation astatine 2028, though helium expects the finalization of specifications and suppliers to travel earlier, by the extremity of 2026 oregon aboriginal 2027, Bloomberg reported.

Qualcomm, OpenAI, MediaTek, and Luxshare did not respond to requests for remark from aggregate outlets.

In Kuo's view, OpenAI cannot efficaciously present AI cause services without owning some the bundle and hardware layers. "Only by afloat controlling some the operating strategy and hardware tin OpenAI present a broad AI cause service," helium said. He further contended that nary different instrumentality class matches the smartphone's quality to seizure what a idiosyncratic is doing successful the moment, making it the astir invaluable root of information for real-time AI inference.

Kuo besides sketched retired a imaginable gross model, suggesting OpenAI mightiness necktie hardware income to subscription plans and cultivate a developer ecosystem astir AI agents.

The quality rippled done equity markets beyond Qualcomm: Luxshare saw its Shenzhen-listed shares emergence arsenic overmuch arsenic 10%, portion Apple shares dropped arsenic overmuch arsenic 1.9% successful New York. An OpenAI smartphone would enactment the institution successful nonstop contention with Apple and Samsung, which unneurotic relationship for astir 40% of planetary smartphone sales, according to Reuters.

OpenAI has been expanding into user hardware, acquiring decorator Jony Ive's startup io for $6.4 cardinal successful equity to make caller AI devices. Altman has publically positioned the io collaboration arsenic yielding thing categorically caller — helium reportedly described a planned instrumentality arsenic a complement to phones and laptops alternatively than a replacement for either, Reuters noted. Luxshare separately signed a woody with OpenAI to nutrient user devices, according to CNBC.

Shares of Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon chips are a mainstay of the Android ecosystem and whose modems underpin 4G and 5G connections, person shed 13% successful 2026 heading into this week. Qualcomm is acceptable to merchandise its second-quarter fiscal results connected Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.