70% of Global Consumers Want AI Assistants in Their Next Device, Qualcomm Report Shows

Nearly 70 percent of respondents say they want an AI assistant in their next device, according to a new report released by Qualcomm Technologies. The study, which surveyed more than 12,000 people across key geographies, highlights a decisive shift toward AI‑first consumer products and underscores why manufacturers are racing to embed intelligent agents in everyday hardware. The survey was conducted online between March and April 2024, targeting a balanced mix of age groups, income brackets, and tech‑savvy levels in North America, Europe, Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East. Participants were asked how likely they would be to purchase a device that could understand natural language, manage apps, and automate routine tasks without manual input. "Our data shows a clear appetite for seamless, voice‑driven experiences," said Dr. Maya Patel, senior director of market insights at Qualcomm. "Consumers are no longer satisfied with static interfaces; they expect their devices to anticipate needs and act proactively." Qualcomm’s response lies in its portfolio of intelligent, connected, computing and AI solutions (IQC). By leveraging on‑device neural processing units (NPUs) and low‑latency edge AI, the company enables wearables, smartphones and IoT gadgets to run sophisticated language models locally, preserving privacy while delivering real‑time responsiveness. The report notes that 58 percent of respondents value privacy‑preserving AI, a metric that Qualcomm cites as a driver for its edge‑centric architecture. Industry analysts predict that the demand signaled by the survey could translate into a $45 billion market for AI‑enabled personal assistants by 2027. OEMs are already announcing partnerships with Qualcomm to integrate its AI stack into upcoming flagship phones and smart watches. However, challenges remain, including standardizing voice interaction protocols, ensuring cross‑platform compatibility, and navigating regulatory frameworks around data protection. Looking ahead, Qualcomm plans to release a developer toolkit later this year that will simplify the creation of custom AI assistants for third‑party manufacturers. The company also aims to expand its AI research collaborations with universities in the Middle East and Africa, hoping to diversify the linguistic capabilities of its models. If consumer enthusiasm sustains, the next generation of devices could become true conversational partners, reshaping how we interact with technology on a daily basis.