The unexpected news hails from a highly trustworthy source. OpenAI is not satisfied with only managing the leading AI chatbot globally. The company aims to integrate itself into everyday life with a new ambition.
Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared insights over the weekend, indicating that OpenAI is working on developing a smartphone centered around AI agents instead of conventional apps. The device is reported to involve collaborations with MediaTek and Qualcomm for processors, with Luxshare taking on a sole manufacturing role.
Mass production is anticipated for 2028, with specifications and suppliers expected to be finalized by late 2026 or early 2027.
This innovation proposes a shift in mobile phone functionality, according to Kuo. Rather than managing multiple apps, users will simply instruct their phones on tasks they want to complete, and the AI agent will fulfill these requests. OpenAI is purportedly creating an agentic AI operating system based on this concept.
OpenAI’s competitive edge includes a recognized brand, extensive user data, and cutting-edge AI models. The proposed phone would merge on-device AI for ongoing awareness with cloud-based AI for more complex computations.
This venture is distinct from OpenAI’s previously stated hardware goals, which involve working with Apple’s former Chief Design Officer Jony Ive on a small AI companion device. Development hurdles have challenged this project, notably in software architecture, and building a user-friendly, always-active AI interface.
With OpenAI’s current focus on maintaining ChatGPT operations at significant costs, the timeline for their new hardware could extend to 2027. The company believes it can succeed where similar revolutionary AI devices have failed, drawing optimism from its innovation and brand strength.
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(Note: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, instigated a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025 for copyright infringement in its AI system operations.)