Qualcomm’s CEO is collaborating with nearly all major AI firms on covert devices, while also driving OpenAI’s inaugural hardware initiative

(SeaPRwire) –   Cristiano Amon declined to disclose specifics, but he did share details about the companies involved.

“There are some secret form factors that I cannot discuss,” Qualcomm’s CEO said during an interview with Editor in Chief Alyson Shontell on the Titans and Disruptors of Industry podcast. “But I believe we’re collaborating with almost all of them.”

In this context, “almost all of them” refers to AI firms competing to create the device set to replace the smartphone—including OpenAI, Meta, and others that Amon chose not to name during his conversation from the company’s San Diego headquarters. This upcoming device won’t be handheld; instead, it will take the shape of items you wear: glasses, jewelry, pins, or pendants. At its core is the concept that the central hub of digital life will shift away from the phone and toward autonomous agents.

The interview took place before TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in late April that Qualcomm and MediaTek were jointly developing a custom chip for an OpenAI smartphone, with manufacturing handled by Luxshare. Kuo predicted mass production would begin in 2028, with annual shipments reaching 300 to 400 million units—a volume that would position OpenAI alongside Apple in terms of hardware scale. Following the report, Qualcomm’s stock surged as much as 13%, though neither company confirmed the collaboration.

However, one issue with that initial report is that a smartphone doesn’t align with Amon’s description of non-phone hardware. A more recent Kuo note, dated May 5, suggests the phone chip project may now involve only MediaTek, with mass production accelerated to early 2027.

Regardless of Qualcomm’s role in that particular device, Amon emphasized a broader vision: Qualcomm will supply the essential silicon powering the expansion of AI into consumer hardware across the board.

The “ecosystem of you”

Amon argues that the smartphone-driven era Qualcomm helped establish is drawing to a close. He envisions a new future he calls the “ecosystem of you”—where cameras embedded in glasses capture what you see, earbuds deliver clear audio of your surroundings, and a unified agent integrates these inputs across all devices.

“If AI can understand what we say, hear what we hear, and interpret what we see—and since glasses are positioned near our eyes, ears, and mouth—all of this sensory information becomes crucial context for agents to assist effectively,” he explained.

While the idea of a “digital twin” might seem dystopian, Amon described practical, low-friction applications. For example, when viewing a restaurant bill, the agent could automatically process payment. When examining a product, it might compare prices. If a meeting arises unexpectedly, the agent could reschedule by contacting the doctor’s office on your behalf.

This year marks the dawn of AI agents, as Amon put it—the moment when everyone begins experimenting with granting artificial intelligence greater autonomy over daily tasks. Devices featuring these agents will enter the market this year, but by 2027 or 2028, they will become ubiquitous, he predicted. “They’ll feel completely natural.”

He expressed strong optimism about smart glasses as the leading form factor, while also acknowledging fierce competition across categories. “People don’t all dress alike or wear the same style of glasses,” he noted.

He cited ByteDance as an early example. In December, the TikTok parent launched the Doubao Mobile Assistant on a ZTE-manufactured handset, the Nubia M153—a phone where the AI agent controls software functions, navigates apps, books tickets, and handles payments. The initial batch of roughly 30,000 units sold out immediately. Tencent CEO Pony Ma subsequently criticized the device as “extremely unsafe and irresponsible.” Within days, Meituan, WeChat, and Alibaba restricted Doubao’s access to their platforms. Undeterred, ByteDance is preparing a second-generation device slated for release in Q2 2026.

“We highlighted this during our last earnings call—no one else seemed to notice,” Amon remarked. “The industry’s control point is shifting. It’s no longer about operating systems or app stores. Instead, it’s going to revolve around which agents users choose.”

For many, handing over control to a machine feels either far-fetched or outright frightening. Yet Amon remains optimistic. He believes society will adapt, just as it did with the internet and smartphones.

“Like any new technology, it can be misused and comes with certain risks,” he said. “But overall, what the smartphone achieved was connecting people and giving them access to information. I believe AI has the potential to do the same—to empower individuals.”