OpenAI's Bold Bet on an AI Smartphone Without Apps

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is diversifying into the tech hardware sector, despite legal threats from Elon Musk. The company is linked to an ambitious smartphone project, in partnership with industry giants such as MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Luxshare.

According to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, MediaTek and Qualcomm are involved in designing the chip for the future smartphone, while Luxshare is engaged in co-design and manufacturing. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 chips, which are expected to power most high-end Android smartphones by 2026, could also be integrated into this project.

For several years, MediaTek and Qualcomm have been considering the use of AI agents as the future of phones. These agents would be at the core of OpenAI's smartphone, eliminating the need for separate applications. Kuo stated that users are not looking to use a multitude of apps but rather to accomplish tasks and meet needs through their phones, which could transform the perception of smartphones.

In addition to this project, OpenAI also has a high-profile partnership with Jony Ive, former Apple designer. A recent rumor suggests that the company could launch up to five different devices by the end of 2028, potentially including AI headphones.

Meanwhile, OpenAI appears to be scaling back its secondary projects, pausing the Sora video generator and a planned adult mode for ChatGPT, in favor of a super productivity-focused application built around the coding tool Codex.

The specifications and suppliers for the supposed smartphone are expected to be finalized by the end of the year or the first quarter of 2027, with production slated for 2028. OpenAI has not yet responded to requests for comments on these developments.