China’s StepFun has introduced StepX Neo, a smartphone built around an AI agent rather than a conventional app-first experience. The device is designed to take a user request, identify the necessary services, and complete tasks across multiple platforms.
The proposal differs from the established model used by Android phones and iPhones, where users generally move between separate applications. With StepX Neo, artificial intelligence is intended to serve as the central layer of the mobile experience.
The phone runs Step AOS, an operating system created specifically for AI agents. StepFun unveiled the platform at an event in Shanghai on Monday (13/7), alongside the launch of its StepX AI terminal brand.
A personal assistant called Amoo sits at the center of the operating system. It is integrated directly into Step AOS to receive user instructions and connect with digital services.
Services Connected to Amoo
| Service | Main Function | Role in StepX Neo |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay | Payments | Supports transaction-related tasks |
| Trip.com | Travel bookings | Handles travel-related arrangements |
| Didi Chuxing | Ride-hailing | Connects transportation services |
| Meituan | On-demand services | Supports everyday service requests |
StepFun says the assistant can work with Alipay, Trip.com, Didi Chuxing, and Meituan. These integrations are intended to let Amoo complete activities spanning several services without requiring intervention at every stage.
The company describes StepX as the world’s first AI terminal brand built natively on a large language model, or LLM. StepX Neo is positioned as an agentic AI smartphone that uses this foundation to coordinate a user’s digital activities.
Why StepFun Built a New Operating System
StepFun founder and chief executive Yin Qi argues that current mobile operating systems were not designed to manage tasks autonomously. The company therefore chose to develop a new platform instead of attaching AI capabilities to an existing mobile system.
“AI agents need an operating system designed from the ground up, not AI features bolted onto existing mobile platforms,” Yin said, as quoted by the South China Morning Post. The statement outlines StepFun’s goal of making AI the basis of mobile interaction rather than an app add-on.
The move comes as competition over AI ecosystems expands beyond large language models and into consumer hardware. In the United States, Apple and OpenAI have also been involved in a legal dispute over allegations concerning staff recruitment and trade secrets for unreleased products.
OpenAI previously announced a collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive to develop dedicated hardware for ChatGPT. StepFun is pursuing a different path by building an independent ecosystem around AI devices and its own operating system.
Commercial Plans Remain Open
StepFun has not announced a price or commercial launch schedule for StepX Neo. Yin said the company does not plan to rely on conventional revenue sources such as hardware sales, preinstalled app fees, or advertising.
The company is still exploring a new monetisation model for AI-native devices. That leaves the commercial future of StepX Neo open, even as service integration remains its main appeal.
StepFun was founded in 2023 by Jiang Daxin, a former Microsoft Research Asia executive. The startup is backed by Tencent Holdings and hardware manufacturers including ZTE.
In May, StepFun raised nearly US$ 2.5 billion in pre-IPO funding at a valuation of about US$ 10 billion. The capital strengthens its capacity to develop Step AOS and pursue its ambitions in the AI device market.