Chinese phone makers integrate agentic AI into new models

Chinese smartphone makers are rebuilding their operating systems around AI agents that can plan and execute tasks across apps, reports Caixin. The manufacturers are placing a new bet on software as falling shipments and rising prices weigh on the global handset market.

Oppo, Vivo and Honor Device unveiled new operating systems at separate developer conferences last week, each promising to turn the smartphone from a device that responds to commands into an assistant capable of anticipating users’ needs and carrying out multistep tasks.

The announcements mark the latest phase of the mobile industry’s AI push. Phone makers initially focused on stand-alone chatbots and features such as photo editing and text generation. They are now integrating AI deeper into their operating systems, giving agents access to apps, personal data and device functions.