The integration of AI into smartphones is predicted to revolutionise workplace productivity by streamlining tasks and enhancing collaboration. Intelligent smartphones equipped with Generative AI (GenAI) features allow employees to manage emails, summarise meetings, and organise calendars seamlessly, freeing them from administrative burdens.
This shift enables workers to focus on critical discussions and decision-making, fostering a more efficient work environment. Moreover, AI can analyse data quickly providing valuable insights that inform strategic choices and improve project outcomes.
Beyond task management, AI also supports employee well-being by monitoring behaviour and suggesting breaks or wellness activities. This focus on mental and physical health not only boosts morale but also enhances long-term productivity.
As AI technology continues to evolve, the potential for intelligent smartphones to redefine how employees interact with their work is immense, promising a more efficient, collaborative, and enjoyable workplace for the future.
As phone makers rush to launch the next iteration of their intelligent smartphones, consumers and enterprise leaders should ask: Are all AI-equipped smartphones equal?
Business Case
Despite the current macroeconomic environment and consumers holding on to their devices for longer, IDC forecasts that GenAI smartphone shipments will grow 364% year-over-year in 2024, reaching 234.2 million units.
Anthony Scarsella, research director with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, says GenAI-capable devices are locked and loaded and look to be the next big thing the industry has to offer consumers.
Darren Chen, director of AI Technology Strategic Planning at OPPO, says the rapid development of generative AI brings brand-new functional experiences to smartphones. He cites four major capabilities:
- Efficient computing: AI Phones make more effective use of computing resources to deliver the processing power needed to run Generative AI features.
- Content generation: By processing multimodal inputs and outputs, AI Phones can generate truly original content capable of providing users with creative inspiration and useful information.
- Real-world perception: AI Phones can perceive the real world and understand complex information about users and their environments.
- Self-learning: AI Phones continuously learn and understand users and the world around them to provide more accurate recommendations and more intuitive interaction.
Chen says almost all (phone) manufacturers in the industry are mentioning AI, but most brands only implement AI functions on flagship models.
Scarsella adds that cost will remain a barrier at launch, as many capable chipsets and neural processing units are primarily found in ultra-premium models. However, he anticipates that competition will eventually make these components accessible in mid-range and more affordable devices.
OPPO’s Chan affirms the company's commitment to making AI phones accessible, stating that by 2024, around 50 million OPPO users will experience Generative AI features on their devices.
Evolution of device-based AI
Chen predicts that in the AI phone era, smartphones will undergo full-stack technological innovation and ecosystem reconstruction in terms of hardware platforms, operating systems, and service ecosystems, bringing disruptive AI smartphone experiences.
“AI phones will revolutionise human-device interactions through multi-modal methods like voice commands, and reshape the distribution of knowledge and services, thereby enhancing efficiency in conveying and accessing information and resources.” Darren Chen
Design and user experience
Much of the marketing surrounding AI-equipped smartphones emphasises enhancements in the camera capabilities, battery optimisation, health and wellness tracking, security and biometrics, and augmented reality and gaming.
Chan acknowledges that OPPO prioritises user experience in integrating AI features, focusing on efficient productivity and personalised creativity. Its research into user habits reveals that AI Eraser are highly utilised, with users engaging with it up to 15 times daily.
Functionality and features
Leveraging its own AI capabilities alongside the Google Gemini model, OPPO has introduced a series of innovative AI features to the global market, transforming smartphones into powerful productivity tools. Two key features are:
AI recording summary: This feature supports multi-speaker recognition, automatically identifying and extracting key information to condense lengthy meetings into concise summaries, significantly boosting work efficiency.
AI toolbox: Incorporating AI Summary, AI Writer, and AI Speak, this feature is easily accessible via the ColorOS smart sidebar, ensuring a seamless user experience..
Security and privacy
Historically, security and privacy have not been the strong points of smart devices, despite the allusion to ‘smart’ moniker. Statistics point to this weakness:
- More than 75% of all published apps have at least one security vulnerability.
- Business apps are three times more likely to leak log-in credentials (both personal and corporate data) than the average app.
- One in four mobile applications contains at least one high-risk security flaw.
- 50% of apps with five to ten million downloads include a security flaw.
In response, Google introduced features in 2024 like theft detection lock and remote lock, which use AI to automatically secure devices during suspicious activities. Additionally, AI-driven monitoring of phone calls for potential scams enhances user safety.
Chen asserts that OPPO strictly complies with local laws and invests in comprehensive privacy protection and data encryption technologies. However, both Google and smartphone manufacturers face the challenge of balancing AI convenience with data privacy. The extensive data requirements of AI systems raise the risk of breaches, necessitating careful navigation by users who must weigh the benefits of enhanced features against privacy concerns.
Performance and adaptability
As enterprises adapt their IT strategies to integrate AI, smartphone manufacturers are also launching AI-capable devices. These devices must overcome hardware limitations regarding processing power and memory, requiring optimised operating systems and user interfaces for seamless functionality.
OPPO advocates for a hybrid AI architecture that combines on-device and cloud AI to deliver optimal experiences. Chen explains that this flexible architecture allows for dynamic processing, determining which functions should occur offline versus online. OPPO collaborates with partners like Google and Microsoft to enhance AI functionalities for users.
Collaboration and ecosystem
The successful integration of AI in smartphones relies heavily on collaboration and the development of a robust ecosystem. By forming partnerships across industries, manufacturers can foster innovation, improve user experiences, and ensure responsible data usage. A well-developed ecosystem not only supports AI feature deployment but also promotes continuous improvement and adaptation to user needs, ultimately leading to greater consumer satisfaction and loyalty.
Chen emphasises OPPO's open attitude toward collaboration, working with industry leaders to enhance AI phone experiences through a hybrid architecture. For instance, the OPPO Reno12 series features Google Gemini's large language models, providing users with innovative tools like the AI Toolbox, including AI Writer and AI Recording Summary. However, the availability of such capabilities in markets without Google Services remains uncertain.
Furthermore, Chen reveals that OPPO is collaborating with MediaTek to fine-tune chips for enhanced storage and computational efficiency in future flagship models. By addressing these multifaceted challenges and opportunities, OPPO and other smartphone manufacturers can lead the way in redefining the role of AI in everyday mobile experiences.
