OpenAI’s Secret Smartphone Plan Could Replace Apps With AI Agents

OpenAI may be preparing its boldest move yet — stepping into hardware with a smartphone that could completely change how people interact with their devices.

According to respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company behind ChatGPT is developing a new kind of phone built around AI agents instead of traditional apps. The idea is simple but disruptive: users won’t open apps anymore — they’ll just tell the device what they want, and the AI will handle the rest.

The reported device is being developed in collaboration with major chipmakers MediaTek and Qualcomm, while Luxshare is expected to manage production. Current timelines suggest mass manufacturing won’t begin until 2028, with key hardware decisions finalized within the next year or two.

At the center of this concept is an “agentic” operating system — software designed entirely around intelligent AI assistants. Instead of navigating icons and menus, users would rely on a single interface that understands intent, context, and ongoing tasks. It’s a major shift away from the app-driven model that has defined smartphones for over a decade.

OpenAI’s potential advantage lies in its existing ecosystem. The company already operates some of the most advanced AI systems available and has access to vast amounts of user interaction data. The reported device would blend on-device AI for real-time awareness with cloud-based processing for more demanding tasks, creating a hybrid system that aims to feel both fast and deeply personalized.

This project is separate from OpenAI’s other hardware effort involving Jony Ive, the former Apple design chief. That initiative focuses on a smaller, screenless AI companion device — a concept that has reportedly faced technical and design challenges, including how to create an always-on assistant that feels useful without crossing into discomfort.

There’s also a bigger question hanging over all of this: execution. The tech industry has already seen similar ideas stumble. Devices like Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin promised app-free experiences but failed to gain traction, with one already discontinued shortly after launch.

Meanwhile, OpenAI is juggling massive operational demands. Running its AI services reportedly costs billions each year, raising concerns about how much focus and resource the company can realistically dedicate to hardware.

Still, the ambition is clear. If OpenAI can deliver a seamless agent-driven experience, it could reshape the smartphone as we know it — replacing taps and swipes with conversation and intent.

For now, the project remains in development, and plenty could change before launch. But if the rumors hold true, the next major shift in mobile computing might not come from a new app — it could come from eliminating them entirely.