Can feature phones run ChatGPT? The answer might surprise many.

Unless you haven't been following technology at all in the last few years, you probably already know that most smartphones now have AI integrated. Users can also add many more AI tools through chatbots or dedicated apps.

 

However, not everyone in the world uses a smartphone.

In fact, many people are still using "brick phones," also known as feature phones. These are devices that only provide basic functions such as making calls, sending texts, and simple internet connectivity, instead of running heavy applications and requiring significant processing power like smartphones.

However, today's feature phones are considerably "smarter" than before. Previously, they were just simple devices operating on 2G networks with a few basic features. Now, many feature phone models support 4G connectivity, offering an experience nearly identical to smartphones in some aspects.

This raises an interesting question: how smart can feature phones become? Can they run AI?

According to HMD — the renowned feature phone manufacturer that previously made Nokia phones — the answer is yes. The company demonstrated this capability at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona.

How does AI work on feature phones?

At HMD's booth at MWC, the company showcased a 4G feature phone with integrated AI.

To activate the AI ​​assistant, users simply press and hold the navigation button in the middle of the device, then ask a question. For example, you could ask: 'What is the weather like in Barcelona tomorrow?' and the chatbot will answer.

 

Unlike high-end smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica — which are equipped with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon chip capable of handling AI directly on the device — feature phones don't have the hardware power to do that.

Instead, all AI requests will be processed in the cloud.

This means the response won't be as fast as on a smartphone running local AI. However, if the 4G connection is stable enough, the latency remains quite low. In the demo, the weather question was answered after about 5 seconds, which is considered quite good for such a simple device.

According to HMD, when AI begins to be implemented in feature phones in the future, the company will use various large language models depending on the region.

In Europe, the devices will use OpenAI's ChatGPT. In China, HMD will use the DeepSeek model, and in India, the company will partner with Sarvam AI to provide AI services.

 

AI can help bridge the technology gap.

According to Ming Li, HMD's global marketing director, many users of the company's feature phones live in low-income areas. In many families, this phone may be the only technology device in the house.

In places like these, the capital gap is already huge, and the increasing prevalence of AI could exacerbate this disparity if people don't have access to the technology.

Therefore, a feature phone capable of using AI could become the first gateway for many people to access AI technology — something that many in developed countries are taking for granted.

In addition to users in low-income areas, HMD also expects older adults to benefit from AI on feature phones.

In another part of the demonstration, Ming Li showed that AI could interact directly with the phone using voice commands. When he pressed and held the navigation button and said, "It's a bit dark here," then flipped the phone over, the flashlight immediately turned on.

According to Li, finding options in a menu can sometimes be quite difficult, especially for older people. Meanwhile, voice control is very natural and easy to use.

AI applications on feature phones are still quite basic compared to the more complex AI features appearing on smartphones, such as automated AI assistants or advanced photo editing tools. Of course, they still can't compare to features like Circle to Search.

However, that doesn't mean these features won't appear in the future. In fact, feature phones are still evolving, just like smartphones.

Ming Li stated that just two years ago, HMD didn't even consider putting a front-facing camera on a feature phone. The pace of AI development today is so rapid that it's difficult to predict what will be possible in the next few years.

However, HMD insists that its goal is not to incorporate every latest technology into its devices, but rather to focus on features that are truly useful to users.

According to Li, the potential of AI on phones is simply enormous, and what we're seeing now is just the beginning.