OpenAI is said to be getting closer to its ambition to develop its own hardware device, notably a smartphone model that deeply integrates artificial intelligence agents, capable of completely replacing traditional applications.
According to famous Taiwanese analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who is widely known for his accurate predictions of Apple's supply chains and products), this company may be cooperating with MediaTek, Qualcomm and Luxshare to develop a complete smartphone, from processors to design and manufacturing.
These are familiar partners in the global technology supply chain, especially in the field of mobile devices.
The biggest difference of this device lies in its operation. Instead of relying on applications as it is now, OpenAI phones can use AI agents to perform tasks as required by users.
This means that users do not need to open individual applications but just make a request, the AI system will automatically process it.
Currently, platforms such as Apple and Google still tightly control the application ecosystem and system access. Developing proprietary hardware helps OpenAI overcome these limitations, thereby deeply integrating AI into all features of the device.
Not only OpenAI, the idea of a "non-applied" future is also being mentioned by many technology leaders. Carl Pei - CEO of Nothing, once said that applications may gradually disappear in the near future, giving way to smarter systems.
According to analysis, OpenAI's phone will be designed to continuously understand the user's context, from habits, behaviors to daily needs. Owning private hardware also allows the company to collect data directly, instead of just relying on applications as it is now.
This system is expected to combine small AI models running on devices and cloud models to optimize performance and processing capabilities.
With ChatGPT approaching the milestone of one billion users per week, expanding to hardware is considered a strategic step to reach consumers more deeply.
According to the revealed roadmap, the technical specifications and supply chain of the device may be completed by the end of this year or early 2027.
Mass production is expected to begin in 2028. Previously, OpenAI representative Chris Lehane also said that the company is on track to launch its first hardware product in the second half of 2026, with some initial speculation surrounding smart headphones.
If it becomes a reality, OpenAI's AI smartphone will not only be a new technology product but can also reshape how people interact with mobile devices in the future.
