Several Chinese technology firms showcase agentic, AI-enabled smartphones at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, according to multiple reports. The phones are described as “pocket-size AI” devices that use AI agents to carry out tasks through voice or other inputs. Demonstrations include functions such as ordering food and composing messages, with the firms presenting the phones as capable of handling requests that traditionally require interacting with separate apps.
All accounts characterize the demonstrations as early signals of where smartphone software may be heading, with at least three companies highlighted as presenting agentic phone capabilities during the event. One report also notes potential consequences of broader adoption: if AI agents perform more actions directly on a user’s behalf, major existing apps and platforms may lose some control over user tasks or their workflows.
Overall, the coverage frames the WAIC presentations as a preview of competitive efforts to bring AI-agent features into mainstream mobile devices, while raising questions about how responsibilities and access between AI agents and app ecosystems could shift.
