Analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo says OpenAI is engineering a dedicated smartphone that aims to deliver true agentic AI. The device would run core models locally while routing heavier workloads to the cloud, and is slated for mass production in 2028. A custom silicon solution is central to the plan, promising always‑on contextual awareness without relying on third‑party apps.

To build the chip, OpenAI is courting MediaTek and Qualcomm, while Chinese contract firm Luxshare serves as the exclusive co‑design and manufacturing partner. The UI concept ditches app grids for a “task stream” that displays active jobs and status on the home screen. User‑context parsing would be baked into the chipset, and the phone will bundle OpenAI subscription services.

OpenAI’s hardware ambitions accelerated after Sam Altman and designer Jony Ive acquired the “io” startup last year, sparking talk of a broader “family of devices.” Rumors have already floated an AI‑enhanced pen, earbuds and a smart speaker; the forthcoming phone would be the first full‑scale mobile entry. If realized, it could force traditional OEMs to rethink how AI is integrated at the silicon level.