Rumors that OpenAI would stay out of the handset market have evaporated. Analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo posted that the AI lab is now engineering a phone slated for a 2028 launch, partnering with MediaTek and Qualcomm on custom processors while Luxshare handles system co‑design and manufacturing. The move follows OpenAI's broader hardware push, which already includes a ChatGPT‑powered smart speaker, smart glasses, and a lamp.

Kuo expects processor specifications and supply chain details to solidify by late 2026 or early 2027, giving the company a narrow window to prototype and test. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently hinted at rethinking operating systems and user interfaces to accommodate AI agents, suggesting the device will diverge sharply from the iPhone’s paradigm. Industry insiders see the phone as a platform to embed generative AI deeply into everyday interactions.

If OpenAI delivers a handset built around conversational agents, it could force rivals to reconsider how tightly software and AI integrate. Consumers might soon evaluate smartphones on native AI capabilities rather than raw hardware specs alone. The forthcoming device promises to reshape expectations for what a modern phone can do.