Qualcomm CEO: 2026 Marks Start of Personal AI Agent Era, Smartphones to Lose Central Role

According to Fortune magazine, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon stated on May 11 that 2026 marks the beginning of the personal AI agent era, with smartphones losing their central position as the primary personal computing device. Amon predicts that AI glasses will emerge as the next mainstream form factor, citing their natural fit for visual perception and voice interaction, enabling seamless personal AI experiences.

Amon disclosed that the first generation of personal AI devices should be available to the public by year-end 2026. He projects a major workload shift toward personal AI devices during 2027-2028, with the installed base expanding from millions currently to tens of billions within five years.