5 hours ago
- Chinese smartphone makers are integrating AI more deeply than Apple or Google, moving towards replacing apps with AI agents rather than just adding AI apps.
- Examples include ZTE's Nubia NaviX Ultra with ByteDance's Doubao AI agent, StepFun's StepX Neo with a proprietary AI agent, and Honor's MagicOS 10 with the YOYO Intelligent Agent, all using Anthropic's Model Context Protocol.
- These agentic AI phones have an OS-level AI layer that functions across and instead of apps, unlike traditional AI apps on iOS or Android.
- Apple and Google resist agentic AI because app stores generate significant revenue (15-30% for Apple, 17-26% of Google's operating income from Play Store), while Chinese OEMs can disrupt the app model as they have no stake in it.