AI in smartphones is evolving, and OPPO wants to be at the forefront of that change. At MWC 2025, the company announced an expanded AI strategy, aiming to double its generative AI user base to 100 million by the end of the year. Alongside this, OPPO is rolling out AI-driven tools like real-time call translation and voice transcription, while integrating Google’s Gemini AI into its ecosystem. The promise? Monthly updates and tighter security measures to keep AI useful rather than intrusive.
Practical AI or just more features?
Many smartphone AI features feel more like a marketing exercise than a genuine improvement. OPPO, however, is leaning into functionality. The AI Call Translator offers real-time translation during phone calls — useful for travellers or anyone working across multiple languages. AI VoiceScribe can transcribe and summarise conversations, making it easier to keep track of important details from meetings or lectures.
Google Gemini integration: A smarter approach?
A key part of OPPO’s AI expansion is its deeper collaboration with Google. Gemini AI will soon integrate with OPPO apps like Notes, Calendar, and Clock, allowing users to perform actions without switching between apps. This could make everyday tasks faster, provided the AI is accurate and responsive. OPPO has already incorporated Google’s Gemini 1.5 models into its phones, and the company says Gemini 2.0 support is on the way.
Privacy and security: Who owns your data?
AI’s increasing presence in smartphones raises legitimate concerns about data security. OPPO’s solution is its Private Computing Cloud, built on Google’s Confidential Computing framework. The company says this ensures that AI-powered features like search and voice processing don’t compromise user privacy. But whether this level of security is enough to reassure privacy-conscious users remains to be seen.
A new approach to AI updates
OPPO plans to release new AI updates on a monthly basis, aiming to keep features relevant rather than static. The Find N5 will be among the first devices to receive these updates, with other models like the Reno13 and Find X8 following. Whether this frequent update cycle will lead to meaningful improvements or just minor tweaks is something to watch.
Hardware matters too
OPPO isn’t just focusing on software. The company is working with MediaTek to optimise chips for AI tasks, aiming to improve efficiency without draining battery life. AI-specific enhancements like LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) and MoE (Mixture of Experts) are being introduced to boost processing power without adding bulk to devices.
The bottom line
OPPO’s AI strategy is ambitious, but it raises some key questions. Will monthly updates bring significant improvements, or will they be more about marketing than substance? Can AI-driven features like call translation and voice transcription genuinely improve daily smartphone use? And most importantly, how well will OPPO balance AI convenience with user privacy? These are the questions that will define how useful this AI rollout actually is.