OpenAI fast-tracks AI phone with customized chip, aiming for 30 million shipments by 2028
14 Sources
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OpenAI is reportedly launching a phone for ChatGPT
OpenAI's first hardware product might be a phone instead of a mysterious Jony Ive gadget. As reported by MacRumors, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared details about the rumored phone, claiming OpenAI is "fast-tracking" it and aiming to start mass production in early 2027. According to Kuo,
[2]
OpenAI might be fast-tracking its AI phone with a powerful new MediaTek chip
The chip is said to prioritize AI and vision features, including a dual-NPU design, upgraded ISP for HDR sensing, and next-gen memory and storage. A few weeks ago, renowned TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that OpenAI was exploring custom smartphone processors for a new
[3]
OpenAI's new phone being fast-tracked to launch next year, per report - 9to5Mac
Last week Ming-Chi Kuo broke the news that OpenAI's hardware ambitions now include a smartphone to directly compete with the iPhone. And a new update from Kuo suggests the company is moving even faster than anticipated to launch the first OpenAI phone. Ming-Chi Kuo, writing on X: OpenAI appears
[4]
OpenAI phone reportedly lands early next year - do you want one?
Apparently, OpenAI is speeding up development on its first smartphone which could now debut as soon as early next year. Do you have any interest? Last week, the idea of an OpenAI smartphone took one step closer to reality. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that OpenAI was in the early stages of
[5]
OpenAI reportedly fast tracking ChatGPT phone for 2027 launch -- and this is the 'headline spec'
OpenAI's first AI device could actually be a phone that launches sooner than you think. According to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on X, Open is "fast-tracking" the development of its AI agent phone with mass production possibly kicking off in early 2027. Kuo also supplied a surprising number
[6]
OpenAI Fast-Tracking AI Phone for 2027 Launch, Says Kuo
OpenAI is said to be fast-tracking development of its first "AI agent phone," with the company now aiming to mass produce the device as early as the first half of next year, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Late last month, Kuo revealed OpenAI's work on a smartphone, contradicting
[7]
OpenAI could launch its first AI agent smartphone in 2027
OpenAI could be preparing to enter the hardware space with its first AI-focused smartphone, according to TF Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo. The device is said to be in active development, with mass production potentially targeted for the first half of 2027. While OpenAI has not officially
[8]
OpenAI Is Reportedly Building an AI Phone -- And Taking Aim at the iPhone
"If development stays on track, combined 2027 to 2028 shipments could reach around 30 million units," Kuo claimed. Kuo is an analyst at TF International Securities who has built a reputation as the world's most accurate predictor of the tech industry's product plans. Business Insider has called
[9]
OpenAI's AI Phone Could Arrive in Early 2027 With This MediaTek Chip
The AI-focused smartphone is tipped to run on a MediaTek Dimensity SoC OpenAI is said to be working on its own smartphone to compete with the likes of the iPhone. After leaking information about the handset a few days ago, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now revealed
[10]
Would you buy an OpenAI phone? New rumours suggest that one day, you might | Stuff
The best smartphones haven't really changed much over the years. A faster screen here, a bigger camera bump there - the big upgrades are incremental, rather than mind-blowing. But new speculation surrounding an OpenAI phone might shake things up a bit. The latest reports stem from analyst Ming-Chi
[11]
OpenAI Eyes Consumer Hardware Leap With AI Agent Phone by 2027 - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Alphabet (NASDAQ
OpenAI is reportedly moving faster on plans to develop an AI agent smartphone that could enter mass production by 2027, marking a potential expansion from software into consumer hardware. AI Smartphone Push Gains Momentum Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a post on X that OpenAI "may be accelerating
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OpenAI Picks MediaTek Over Qualcomm For Its First Smartphone, Customizing The Dimensity 9600 With A Dual-NPU Architecture To Challenge The iPhone
OpenAI appears to be fast-tracking its plans for an AI-enabled smartphone, partially in a bid to bolster its IPO that might land as soon as this year. And, in its urgency, OpenAI appears to be settling on a customized version of MediaTek's upcoming flagship Dimensity 9600 chip as the SoC of choice
[13]
OpenAI custom AI agent smartphone could launch in 2027
OpenAI is accelerating the development of its first proprietary "AI agent phone," according to a recent industry update from prominent supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The device is reportedly targeting mass production as early as the first half of 2027 (1H27). This strategic hardware initiative
[14]
OpenAI AI smartphone may launch sooner than expected, mass production tipped for 2027
Could be positioned as part of a broader ecosystem strategy ahead of a potential IPO. We already know that OpenAI is working on a new smartphone and quite a different one to rival Apple, Samsung, and other brands. Now the latest hint suggests that it may launch sooner than expected. According to
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OpenAI is accelerating development of its first smartphone, targeting mass production in early 2027. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports the AI-focused smartphone will use a customized MediaTek Dimensity 9600 chip with an enhanced image signal processor for visual sensing. The ambitious project aims for 30 million combined shipments by 2028.
OpenAI Accelerates Timeline for First Smartphone
OpenAI is moving faster than expected on its smartphone ambitions, with mass production by 2027 now targeted for what could become OpenAI's first hardware product. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed the accelerated timeline in a recent update, suggesting the company is "fast-tracking" development to strengthen its position in the emerging AI agent phone category and possibly support a potential IPO
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. The shift represents a notable departure from earlier projections pointing to a much later launch window.
Source: Benzinga
The timing aligns with recent comments from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who suggested last week that now is the right time to "seriously rethink how operating systems and user interfaces are designed"
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. If development stays on track, a public launch could arrive as early as fall 2027, marking an ambitious entry into the smartphone market for a company with no prior hardware manufacturing experience.Customized MediaTek Chip Powers AI Agent Service
The AI phone will run on a customized version of the Dimensity 9600, with MediaTek now emerging as the leading candidate to supply the processor, potentially sidelining earlier mentions of Qualcomm
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. The customized MediaTek chip will be built on TSMC's next-generation N2P process and is expected to be revealed in the second half of 20262
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Source: Wccftech
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the chip will prioritize AI workloads rather than pure smartphone performance metrics. The enhanced image signal processor will serve as the "headline spec," featuring an enhanced HDR pipeline designed to improve visual sensing capabilities
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. This HDR pipeline will improve what the AI "sees" through the device's camera, enabling the phone to continuously look at and understand its surroundings2
.Dual-NPU Architecture and Advanced Specifications
The AI-focused smartphone will feature a dual-NPU architecture designed to handle different types of AI workloads more efficiently, such as language and vision tasks running simultaneously
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. To ease memory bottlenecks, the device will include LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5.0 storage, providing the bandwidth needed for intensive AI computation2
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Source: Tom's Guide
On the security front, the phone will incorporate pKVM (protected Kernel-based Virtual Machine) and inline hashing features for data protection—technologies already implemented in devices like Google's Pixel phones
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. As Kuo noted previously, "Only by fully controlling both the operating system and hardware can OpenAI deliver a comprehensive AI agent service"5
. This hardware and software integration approach mirrors strategies used by companies like Apple to create tightly controlled user experiences.Related Stories
Ambitious Sales Target Raises Questions
Kuo estimates that combined 2027-2028 shipments could reach around 30 million units
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. That would place the AI agent phone's sales performance near those of a typical Samsung flagship—a lofty goal for a first-generation device from a company that has never manufactured phones before, especially in a product category that doesn't fully exist yet1
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.The aggressive timeline and sales projections raise questions about market readiness and consumer demand. Meanwhile, OpenAI has said nothing about this phone or its plans to make one
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. The company has been working with longtime Apple design head Jony Ive through his design firm LoveFrom, which OpenAI acquired in May 2025, on a suite of hardware devices3
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. Ive has previously expressed interest in undoing some of the societal harm that smartphones have created, though he presumably remains heavily involved in OpenAI's phone project3
.OpenAI is also rumored to be developing at least five other AI-powered devices, including earbuds expected in September, speakers, smart glasses, a smart pen, and a wearable pin
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. The smartphone pivot appears recent, making the 2027 timeline particularly ambitious for what would be OpenAI's first hardware product to reach consumers.References
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