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Qualcomm CEO Amon: Industry shifting from app-centric to agent-centric era, smartphones to serve as core AI hub
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At the 2026 Snapdragon Summit on September 22, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon declared the industry is moving from an app-centric to an agent-centric era, where user intent replaces apps as the primary interaction starting point. Amon stated that smartphones will not be replaced but will serve as the core hub for personal AI agents, with app and agent experiences coexisting long-term. He outlined requirements for agents: trust, privacy, simplicity, environmental awareness, intent understanding, and cross-app/cross-device task execution under user authorization. On the technology front, Qualcomm is extending its HBC high-bandwidth computing engine from data centers to Snapdragon mobile platforms to handle up to one million daily tokens on-device while balancing performance, heat, and battery life. This technology will later expand to PCs, XR, and automotive devices, with more details at MWC. In ecosystem partnerships, Qualcomm is collaborating deeply with Google on the Gemini Intelligence layer for continuous ambient intelligence across phones, PCs, glasses, and cars, and with Mastercard to build a trust layer for AI-conducted transactions. On the personnel front, former Motorola CEO Sergio Buniac joined Qualcomm as EVP to lead mobile, computing, and XR business units. Qualcomm also announced the acquisition of Modular, open-sourcing the Mojo language, and launching the MAX cross-platform AI tool to build an open AI software ecosystem. Amon forecast that agent experiences will span phones, PCs, wearables, glasses, and cars, powered by hybrid AI for cloud-edge synergy, with Snapdragon driving AI smartphones and personal AI terminals.
Source report
September 22 — At the 2026 Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon delivered a keynote address, formally declaring the industry's transition from an app-centric to an agent-centric era. The starting point of interaction has shifted from applications to user intent.
Smartphones as the Core Hub for Personal AI Agents
Amon emphasized that smartphones will not be replaced. Instead, as the terminal that best understands users, they will serve as the central hub for personal AI agents. App-based and agent-based experiences will coexist over the long term.
Key requirements for AI agents include:
- Trustworthiness and security
- Privacy control
- Ease of use
- Environmental awareness
- Intent understanding
- Reasoning and planning capabilities
- Cross-app and cross-device task execution under user authorization
Technical Advancements: HBC Engine Comes to Mobile
On the technology front, Qualcomm has extended its High Bandwidth Computing (HBC) engine—originally designed for data centers—to the Snapdragon mobile platform. This enhancement strengthens memory-AI unit collaboration to handle up to one million tokens per day on-device, while balancing performance, thermal management, and all-day battery life.
The technology will later expand to PCs, XR devices, and automotive platforms. Further details are expected to be announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC).
Ecosystem Partnerships
- Google: Qualcomm is collaborating deeply with Google to advance the Gemini Intelligence layer, enabling continuous ambient intelligence experiences across smartphones, PCs, glasses, and vehicles.
- Mastercard: A joint effort to build a trust layer for agent-based commerce, addressing security and privacy concerns when AI agents conduct transactions on behalf of users.
Leadership and Acquisitions
- Executive Appointment: Sergio Buniac, former CEO of Motorola's mobile terminal business, has joined Qualcomm as Executive Vice President of Qualcomm Technologies, overseeing the handset, computing, and XR business units.
- Acquisitions: Qualcomm announced the acquisition of Modular and the open-sourcing of the Mojo language.
- New Tool: The company launched MAX, a cross-platform AI tool, as part of its strategy to build an open AI software ecosystem for the entire industry.
Vision for the Future
Amon stated that agent-based experiences will span smartphones, PCs, wearables, glasses, and vehicles, leveraging hybrid AI to enable seamless cloud-edge collaboration. Snapdragon is driving the full-scale deployment of AI smartphones and personal AI terminals.
Source
DoNewsNeutral / independent