The AI phone race is on, but apps hold the key

Nubia launched the NaviX Ultra with ByteDance’s Doubao AI, calling it the start of AI agent smartphones.Smartphone makers are accelerating efforts to launch AI-powered "agentic" phones capable of carrying out complex tasks through voice commands, but limited access to third-party apps remains a key obstacle to widespread adoption, AFP reported.At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, several companies unveiled smartphones equipped with AI agents that can perform tasks such as ordering food, booking rides, composing messages and comparing shopping prices with minimal user input.Chinese smartphone maker Nubia introduced its NaviX Ultra, powered by ByteDance's Doubao AI model, describing it as the beginning of a "new era of AI agent smartphones."App ecosystem remains the biggest challengeThe promise of AI agents lies in their ability to interact seamlessly across multiple applications.

However, major internet platforms are reluctant to grant unrestricted access, fearing they could lose direct relationships with users.ByteDance faced this challenge when its prototype Doubao Phone launched last year.

Shortly after its release, companies including Alibaba, Tencent and JD.com restricted the AI assistant's access to their platforms, forcing ByteDance to disable certain AI agent functions, particularly those involving payments."Platforms want to keep direct contact with their users, otherwise they lose control to another party," Kiranjeet Kaur, Associate Research Director at IDC, said.She added that while AI agents remain an industry goal, the technology is still evolving and performance is inconsistent.Companies expand AI smartphone ambitionsAlongside Nubia, Honor showcased its AI-powered Robot Phone, featuring a movable camera module capable of recognising gestures, following users and stabilising videos.

The company said the device, expected later this year, will include an AI agent built using multiple models, including technology co-developed with Alibaba.Shanghai-based startup StepFun also unveiled the STEPX Neo, an AI agent-native smartphone designed to integrate with services such as Alipay and ride-hailing platform Didi for travel bookings, shopping and productivity tasks.Outside China, companies including Google and US startup Brain Technologies are also expanding AI-powered smartphone capabilities.

Industry analysts expect AI agents to fundamentally reshape how users interact with smartphones over the next decade."There is no clear winner in this race yet," Counterpoint Research analyst Marc Einstein said, adding that traditional mobile apps may eventually give way to AI-driven interactions.