Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon recently predicted that artificial intelligence smartphones (AI smartphones) will become accessible to every consumer worldwide within five years. He forecasts that almost everyone could possess an AI-based smartphone in the near future. Amon believes that the proliferation of AI smartphones will follow the mature trajectory of the transition from feature phones to smartphones, requiring a gradual enhancement and enrichment of application scenarios. He is convinced that with ongoing technological advancements, AI smartphones will lead market trends and become mainstream in the industry.

Recently, a report from Bain & Company warned that with the surge in demand for AI semiconductors and AI smartphones and laptops, the world may face the next chip shortage. It’s worth noting that the last large-scale semiconductor shortage occurred during the pandemic, when supply chains were disrupted and demand for electronic products soared due to everyone working from home. Now, tech giants are scrambling to purchase graphics processing units (GPUs), particularly those from Nvidia. These GPUs are the secret weapon for training large AI models.

With Apple launching the AI-enabled iPhone 16 series, the AI smartphone market enters a new phase. Both major global smartphone operating systems have introduced AI smartphone products, offering consumers more choices. A Canalys report forecasts that the rapid development of AI technology will propel the mobile communication industry into a new era. By the end of 2024, approximately 16% of newly shipped smartphones will feature AI capabilities. The AI smartphone market is expected to exceed 1 billion units in cumulative shipments by 2026, driven primarily by advancements in chip technology and growing consumer demand.

Samsung S24 series smartphone sales exceed 1 million units. AI smartphones are the trend of the future, with an estimated 40 million units expected to be shipped in 2024, increasing to 150 million by 2027. Multiple smartphone manufacturers are showcasing their determination in AI smartphones. AI technology is reshaping smartphones, but its short-term impact on performance is minimal.

In 2024, it is expected that the number of smartphones equipped with edge AI computing capabilities will reach 60 million units. Compared to PCs, smartphones have the advantage of being early adopters in the application of AI algorithms. The most basic requirement for an AI smartphone is that the SoC includes dedicated units to accelerate AI tasks. Unlike other products, the large number of smartphone users is beneficial for the promotion of AI applications. The strong portability and diverse applications of smartphones are conducive to innovative applications of edge AI.

Generative AI smartphones will lead market trends, with Samsung taking the lead and Galaxy AI as a key product. Qualcomm is expected to dominate the chip market. The market share of generative AI smartphones is projected to reach 40%.