Qualcomm CEO Amon: 2026 is the 'Year of AI Agents', Personal AI Devices May Reach Billions in Five Years

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon recently stated in an interview that the era dominated by smartphones is about to change, and 2026 is the 'Year of AI Agents'. Personal AI devices like smart glasses and jewelry will gradually become popular, with some expected to be available to the public by the end of this year. These devices can connect to AI agents for low-friction interactions, such as asking about clothing prices or generating try-on effects while shopping.

Amon predicts that personal AI devices are currently at the millions scale and may grow to billions in five years, eventually reaching 10 billion. Meanwhile, 6G technology will help AI optimize object recognition and digital twin construction. Although workloads will gradually shift to AI devices, smartphones will not disappear but complement new devices.