Oppo to Bring Generative AI to 50M Users in 2024: From Premium to Affordable Smartphones
Oppo plans to roll out AI functions to 50 million users by the end of the year. The company wants to make generative AI accessible to consumers. Oppo will incorporate AI technology in both flagship and affordable smartphone models.
The company plans to incorporate generative AI technology across its entire product lineup, from premium to affordable models. This move puts Oppo as a prominent handset manufacturer embracing the AI wave.
As AI becomes a must-have feature in smartphones, Oppo wants to make generative AI more accessible to users. Nicole Zhang, Oppo's general manager of AI products, stressed the importance of smartphones as personal AI devices during a live-streamed online event. Zhang claimed that the company is living in the AI age and intends to democratise AI phones for the first time in the industry.
Oppo plans to provide generative AI features to about 50 million smartphone users by the end of the year. This comprises both the flagship Find series and the more economical Reno, F, and A series. The company's entry into the AI smartphone market is consistent with the trend among Chinese Android manufacturers to include AI capabilities into their devices in order to profit on growing consumer demand.
According to consultancy firm Canalys, China is likely to dominate the globe in the adoption of AI-powered smartphones, accounting for 12% of total smartphone shipments this year, exceeding the global average of 9%. Canalys analyst Lucas Zhong emphasises the importance of generative AI phones for smartphone manufacturers, citing the chance to stand out in the market and increase profitability.
Oppo's competitors, including Vivo, Huawei Technologies, and its spin-off Honour, have also announced ambitions to incorporate AI into their products and mobile operating systems. These businesses are developing the next generation of smartphones to help consumers with AI-enhanced tasks like photo editing, note-taking, and web page summarization.
While developing AI capabilities in-house might be expensive, Oppo wants to provide generative AI to as many customers as possible for free. However, the corporation has not ruled out the potential of charging for these capabilities in the future. Zhang promises that if Oppo decides to charge for AI features, the functionalities will be valuable and worth the money.
Oppo plans to roll out AI functions to 50 million users by the end of the year
The company wants to make generative AI accessible to consumers
Oppo will incorporate AI technology in both flagship and affordable smartphone models
Source: SCMP