AI Phones Enter a New Phase.. Awaiting Platform Collaboration for Success

Competition is intensifying in China to develop a new generation of smartphones powered by “AI agents,” a move that could transform how users interact with apps and digital services.

According to a report by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), tech companies are integrating smart assistants capable of performing a variety of tasks—such as ordering food, composing messages via voice commands, and comparing products—without requiring users to switch between apps.

Companies including Nubia, Honor, and StepFun unveiled new models at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, as part of a race to expand the use of these technologies. However, this effort faces challenges, most notably restrictions imposed by some digital platforms that limit AI agents’ access to their services, as companies seek to maintain direct relationships with users.

Experts believe the widespread adoption of these phones could reshape the app ecosystem in the future, but their success will require broader collaboration between AI developers and platform owners, as well as improvements in the reliability of these systems before they can be widely adopted.