Jakarta – The global technology industry has once again been stirred by the latest news from OpenAI. The company behind ChatGPT is reportedly accelerating the development of its first AI smartphone, which is projected to launch in 2027. The device is expected to mark a major step for OpenAI into the hardware market while strengthening its artificial intelligence ecosystem.The information was revealed by well-known technology analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In his latest report, Kuo stated that OpenAI is targeting mass production of the AI smartphone in the first half of 2027. This schedule is faster than previous predictions, which estimated the device would debut in 2028.
According to Kuo, the acceleration of the project is driven by OpenAI’s ambition to strengthen its position in the emerging AI device category. The move is also believed to be linked to the company’s broader plans to expand its business and increase its valuation in the global technology market.In terms of hardware, OpenAI’s first AI smartphone is rumored to use a chipset developed by MediaTek. Previously, OpenAI had reportedly considered chipsets from Qualcomm, but MediaTek was said to offer stronger advantages in several AI-related development areas.
The chip is believed to be a customized version of the Dimensity 9600 and will reportedly be manufactured by TSMC using its next-generation N2P process technology. This technology is claimed to focus more on AI performance improvements rather than conventional benchmark numbers.In addition, OpenAI’s AI smartphone is expected to feature an advanced image signal processor (ISP) with enhanced HDR capabilities. The technology would allow the device to understand its surrounding environment more accurately through cameras and visual sensors. This concept aligns with the vision of an always-active AI device capable of understanding user context in real time.
To support its AI capabilities, the device is rumored to use a dual-NPU setup, enabling it to run multiple AI processes simultaneously and efficiently. The specifications are also expected to include LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 internal storage for high-speed performance.On the security side, OpenAI is said to be preparing several data protection features, including protected Kernel-based Virtual Machine (pKVM) and inline hashing. These technologies have already begun appearing in several premium Android devices to improve system security and user privacy.
If development proceeds according to plan, OpenAI is projected to ship up to 30 million AI smartphones between 2027 and 2028. The figure is considered highly ambitious, especially since OpenAI has never released a smartphone device before.
