Chinese tech company StepFun has introduced its first smartphone, the StepX Neo. The device comes with a built-in AI assistant that can handle tasks across different apps without much help from the user.
The company was started in 2023 by people who used to work at Microsoft. StepFun says this is the first phone of its kind to reach the mass market.
The AI assistant inside StepX Neo is called Step Amoo. It is part of the phone’s operating system rather than being a separate app. Users can give simple commands, and the AI takes care of the rest.
For instance, if someone asks the phone to arrange a holiday, the assistant can look for flights, find hotels, make reservations, and put together a full travel plan. The user does not have to jump between different applications. The system also picks up on what the user likes over time.
The phone can translate conversations, calls, messages, and text from the camera in real time. It works with 32 languages and dialects. For people on the move, the device can also pull up local transport information, suggest places to visit, store travel details for offline use, send alerts for flight check-ins, point out visa requirements, and help with customs forms.
The StepX Neo runs on a custom operating system called Step AOS. StepFun says this is not just a modified version of Android. Instead, the company rebuilt key parts of the software using Android, Linux, and RTOS components.
The system has a feature that breaks down device functions into basic building blocks. This allows the AI to mix and match them to complete more complex jobs. All the AI work happens on the phone itself, so it does not need an internet connection to function.
StepFun claims its AI model outperforms other similar models in 29 different tests. But the company has not specified which tests were used.
StepFun has not shared any information about the price of the StepX Neo or when it will be available for purchase.