Qualcomm CEO says AI agents will replace apps — as chip giant works on 40 new AI-powered devices

In an exciting development for the tech industry, Qualcomm is actively pursuing the creation of over 40 innovative AI-powered devices, as revealed by CEO Cristiano Amon in a recent interview with CNBC. This initiative signals a significant shift in how consumers interact with technology, as Amon envisions a future dominated by AI 'agents' that could replace traditional apps across various electronic platforms. During his appearance on CNBC's "The Tech Download" podcast, Amon discussed the evolving role of smartphones and the potential of smart glasses to emerge as the next major consumer device. He emphasized that the upcoming wave of devices will feature a diverse range of form factors, from wearable tech like jewelry and smartwatches to high-tech earbuds equipped with cameras. "Right now, we have over 40 designs of those devices, and the types of form factors are very, very broad," Amon stated. These AI agents are anticipated to enhance the functionality of digital assistants such as Apple's Siri and Google Gemini, enabling them to perform more complex tasks that span multiple apps and services. For instance, one proposed agent could swiftly pull up banking transaction details, streamlining user interactions by eliminating the need to navigate through an app. Amon remarked, "Apps are not dead, but apps are going to change. Those agents are going to be the new app." The emergence of these agents could fundamentally alter how users engage with their smartphones, positioning AI as the new focal point of digital life. Amon noted, "The phone is around the agent. The new classes of devices will be around the agent as well, and the agent will understand human intentions and perform tasks on our behalf." In addition to AI agents, Amon expressed optimism about the future of smart glasses, predicting that shipments could soar to hundreds of millions annually within a few years. Currently, smart glasses are gaining traction, with annual shipments in the tens of millions, and could rival the smartphone market, which saw 1.26 billion units shipped in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. Amon's insights suggest that the rise of AI agents and smart glasses could pave the way for new players in the consumer hardware space. He highlighted the recent acquisition of the hardware startup io by OpenAI, founded by renowned Apple designer Jony Ive, as further evidence of this trend. As the landscape shifts, Amon believes that non-traditional hardware companies are eager to enter the market to compete for the data generated by these devices, which will be crucial for training future AI models. As Qualcomm prepares for this technological evolution, Amon noted that the chips powering these next-generation devices must evolve as well. "Our entire roadmap is in a process of upgrade right now. I believe none of the devices we have today are prepared for the future," he concluded, underscoring the urgency of adapting to the new demands of AI-driven technology.