Qualcomm CEO says AI agents could replace apps as the next big tech interface

For nearly two decades, apps have been the gateway to the digital world. From banking and shopping to travel and entertainment, users have relied on individual apps to complete everyday tasks.

But according to Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, artificial intelligence could fundamentally change that model. Speaking to CNBC, Amon argued that AI agents may eventually become the primary interface between people and technology, reducing the importance of apps, app stores, and even operating systems.

If that vision becomes reality, it could mark one of the biggest shifts in computing since the smartphone revolution!

From app-centric to agent-centric computing

Today's digital experience requires users to constantly switch between applications to complete tasks. Booking a trip, for example, may involve opening separate apps for flights, hotels, payments, and calendars.

Amon believes AI agents can simplify this process. "You'll have your AI agent, and that AI agent is going to work across all of those applications," he said in the CNBC interview. Instead of navigating multiple services, users could simply state their goal and allow the agent to coordinate the necessary actions.

The AI would handle the complexity behind the scenes. This represents a significant departure from today's app-driven ecosystem, where users manually interact with individual platforms.

Why Qualcomm is betting on AI agents

The idea is part of a broader industry movement towards agentic AI. Unlike traditional chatbots that simply respond to questions, AI agents are designed to perform tasks, make decisions, and manage workflows with minimal human intervention.

Amon believes this evolution could change the industry's control points. "It's not about the OS and the App Store," he said. "It's going to be, what are the agents that you're going to select?" He added that future agents will be able to "go to your phone and go to your apps and start one app, close another app, and start doing things for you."

In this world, apps do not disappear entirely. Instead, they become infrastructure that AI agents use on behalf of users.

The 40-device strategy behind the vision

Qualcomm is not treating this as a distant possibility. According to CNBC, the company is currently working with partners on around 40 AI-powered devices across multiple categories. These include smartphones, PCs, wearables, smart glasses, and other connected products designed for an AI-first future.

This shows Qualcomm's belief that AI agents will operate across a network of devices rather than being tied to a single screen. Instead of users adapting to technology, devices will work together to provide context and support AI-driven experiences.

This could create entirely new categories of products while reducing dependence on traditional app-based interactions.

The bottom line

Amon's prediction goes beyond improving digital assistants. He is envisioning a future where AI agents become the operating layer of everyday computing, handling tasks across apps and devices without requiring users to manage every step themselves.

Whether that future arrives in a few years or takes longer, Qualcomm's investment in dozens of AI-powered devices suggests the company is preparing for a world where the next major platform is not an app, but an AI agent.