Key facts
- Chinese smartphone makers are integrating AI agents into their operating systems.
- Oppo, Vivo, and Honor unveiled new operating systems last week.
- The AI agents are designed to plan and execute tasks across apps.
- The goal is to turn smartphones into assistants that anticipate user needs and perform multistep tasks.
- This strategy aims to revive demand in a market facing falling shipments and rising prices.
Chinese smartphone manufacturers Oppo, Vivo, and Honor are betting on artificial intelligence to revitalize a struggling global handset market. At separate developer conferences last week, the companies revealed new operating systems designed to incorporate AI agents capable of planning and executing tasks across various applications. This move seeks to transform smartphones from reactive devices into proactive assistants that can anticipate user needs and perform complex, multi-step functions. The strategy comes as the industry grapples with declining shipments and increasing device prices, which have weighed on consumer demand.