OpenAI has reportedly partnered with chipmakers and a manufacturing firm to develop an AI-focused smartphone, with mass production targeted for 2028.
According to a recent post from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is working with MediaTek and Qualcomm to co-develop smartphone processors, while Luxshare has been selected as the exclusive partner for system design and assembly.
Kuo states that specifications and supplier decisions are expected to be finalised by late 2026 or early 2027, placing the project within the premium smartphone segment, where annual shipments range between 300 million and 400 million units.
AI agent model drives design approach
Describing the core concept, Kuo writes, “Users are not trying to use a pile of apps. They are trying to get tasks done and fulfill needs through the phone,” pointing to a change in how smartphones are expected to function under an AI-first interface.
His analysis outlines that OpenAI intends to position the device around an AI agent system capable of handling user requests directly, reducing reliance on standalone applications and treating the phone as an execution layer for user intent.
Kuo attributes the move to three structural advantages. Full control over both operating system and hardware would allow OpenAI to deliver a unified AI service; smartphones already capture continuous real-time user data essential for AI inference, and the category remains the largest consumer hardware market globally.
Hybrid AI architecture and supply chain strategy
Detailing the technical design, Kuo notes that the device is expected to combine on-device AI with cloud-based processing. Continuous context awareness would require efficient power use, optimised memory management, and support for smaller AI models running locally, while more complex tasks would be handled through cloud infrastructure.
Processor development with MediaTek and Qualcomm is expected to focus on balancing these workloads, with Kuo adding that advances in chip architecture will play a key role in enabling real-time AI interactions without excessive battery drain.
From a business perspective, Kuo suggests OpenAI may bundle subscription services with its hardware, creating an ecosystem where developers build around AI agents rather than traditional apps.
Highlighting supply chain implications, Kuo notes that Luxshare’s involvement carries strategic importance, as the company gains early exposure to what he describes as a potential next phase in smartphone evolution, even as it remains behind Hon Hai Precision Industry in Apple-related assembly scale.
Kuo also points to potential gains for chipmakers, stating that long-term replacement demand in the high-end segment could provide sustained revenue opportunities if AI agent-driven devices reach scale.
