Qualcomm CEO says AI agents will spark the next smartphone supercycle

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon revealed in an interview at the annual Snapdragon Summit that AI companies have asked Qualcomm to launch a smartphone mobile platform by 2028 that can run 100B-parameter AI models locally.

He believes AI agents will drive the next smartphone "supercycle" and bring back buyers who put off upgrades due to rising prices. Smart glasses are the wearable AI device he favors most.

If huge AI models can run directly on phones, the local experience and multi-agent teamwork will improve a lot. Qualcomm's low-power tech is also seen as a key asset for its move into the data center market.

On 6G, Amon expects a demo at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with early rollout starting around 2029-2030. 6G could support continuous HD video uploads, feeding AI with real-world data in real time.