OpenAI is said to be close to its ambition to develop its own hardware devices, especially smartphone models with deep integration of artificial intelligence agents that can completely replace traditional applications.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent Taiwanese analyst widely known for his accurate predictions of Apple’s supply chain and products, the company could be working with MediaTek, Qualcomm and Luxshare to develop a complete smartphone, from processor to design and manufacturing.
These are familiar partners in the global technology supply chain, particularly in the area of mobile devices.
The biggest difference between this device is in its operation. Instead of relying on applications as they currently do, OpenAI phones can use AI agents to perform tasks at the user’s request.
This means users don’t have to open a separate application, they just make a request and the AI system handles it automatically.
Today, platforms like Apple and Google still tightly control application ecosystems and system access. Developing our own hardware allows OpenAI to overcome these limitations and deeply integrate AI into all features of a device.
The idea of a “non-applied” future is being mentioned by many technology leaders, not just OpenAI. Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, once said that applications could gradually die out in the near future, replaced by smarter systems.
According to the analysis, OpenAI’s mobile phones will be designed to continuously understand the user’s context, from habits and behaviors to daily needs. Owning private hardware also allows you to collect data directly, rather than just relying on applications as you do today.
The system is expected to combine small AI models running on the device with cloud models to optimize performance and processing power.
ChatGPT is approaching the milestone of 1 billion weekly users, and expanding into hardware is seen as a strategic step to reach consumers even deeper.
According to the revealed roadmap, the device’s technical specifications and supply chain could be completed by the end of this year or early 2027.
Mass production is scheduled to begin in 2028. Previously, OpenAI president Chris Lehane also said that the company plans to launch its first hardware products in the second half of 2026, with early speculation surrounding smart headphones.
If that becomes a reality, OpenAI’s AI smartphone will not only be a new technology product, it could reshape the way people interact with mobile devices in the future.
