OpenAI is reportedly accelerating the development of an AI-focused smartphone and may use a customized version of a MediaTek chip.
The move is seen as part of efforts to strengthen the company’s position ahead of a potential IPO that could take place this year.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that OpenAI is likely to use a customized version of MediaTek’s upcoming flagship-grade Dimensity 9600 processor.
MediaTek is expected to release both standard and Pro variants of the chip later this year, though it is not clear which version OpenAI plans to adopt.
Earlier reports indicated that OpenAI had been working with both MediaTek and Qualcomm on a dedicated smartphone processor.
The planned smartphone is expected to focus on real-time AI processing.
According to earlier disclosures, the device will rely on a combination of on-device and cloud-based models rather than traditional app-based workflows.
The hardware is expected to manage real-time data collection, memory processing, and on-device inference, while more complex tasks are handled in the cloud.
The customized Dimensity 9600 chip is expected to include an upgraded image signal processor with enhanced HDR capabilities for real-world visual sensing.
It may also feature a dual-NPU architecture designed for heterogeneous AI workloads, along with LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5.0 storage to reduce bottlenecks.
Security features could include PKVM support and inline hashing.
The Dimensity 9600 is expected to use TSMC’s N2P process.
The Pro variant may include a CPU setup with two ARM C2-Ultra cores, three C2-Premium cores, and three C2-Pro cores, similar to the architecture expected in Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship chip.
Graphics could vary between a Mali-G2 Ultra GPU in the standard version and an ARM Magni GPU in the Pro version.
Kuo estimates that OpenAI could sell around 30 million units of its smartphone between 2027 and 2028 if development proceeds as planned.