Galaxy AI's next big competitor is a ChatGPT phone?

Samsung dominated the mobile AI conversation early with Galaxy AI, a suite of artificial intelligence features it introduced with the Galaxy S24 series. It has only gone from strength to strength since then, with Google's Gemini AI also being deeply integrated.

It appears there could be a new competitor for Galaxy AI on the horizon, a rather unlikely one, as there are rumblings of ChatGPT creator OpenAI potentially working on a smartphone.

As the biggest Android smartphone vendor, Galaxy AI has become synonymous with mobile AI on Android devices. Apple Intelligence was a respectable attempt by Apple, but it's still far from reaching its full potential, with the AI-powered Siri still languishing in the ether.

According to reports, OpenAI is thinking about a radically different approach to mobile AI. The entity behind ChatGPT is reportedly working on a phone in collaboration with Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Luxshare. Qualcomm and MediaTek will reportedly work with OpenAI on the chip while Luxshare will act as a co-design and manufacturing partner.

This AI-first phone won't have apps. It would rely on AI agents instead to complete various tasks. It would bypass the app ecosystem control that Apple and Google currently exercise. OpenAI would be able to use AI across all features without any restrictions.

The device would continuously improve itself based on the users' context, while OpenAI would get access to a lot more data than it can by just existing as an app on iOS or Android phones.

It may take a while before this device materializes, but it's a novel concept nonetheless. Whether it finds any purchase among consumers is another matter entirely.