MediaTek’s new chip brings agentic AI to smartphones for autonomous decision-making

MediaTek’s new Dimensity 9400+ chipset signals a significant shift in mobile computing as the industry moves toward devices capable of performing complex AI tasks independently. The chip represents a pivotal advancement in on-device artificial intelligence, incorporating agentic AI capabilities that allow smartphones to autonomously make decisions and execute multi-step tasks without continuous human direction, fundamentally changing how users interact with their devices.

The big picture: MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400+ introduces autonomous decision-making capabilities to mobile devices, moving beyond simple response-based AI to systems that can anticipate needs and execute complex tasks independently.

• The new system on chip (SoC) features a powerful All Big Core CPU architecture with one Arm Cortex-X925 core (3.73GHz), three Cortex-X4s, and four Cortex-A720 cores.
• This architecture delivers substantial performance improvements for both single- and multi-threaded applications, supporting more responsive Android experiences.

AI capabilities: The chipset leverages MediaTek’s NPU 890 to support advanced large language models with 20% faster agentic AI performance compared to previous generations.

• The chip supports sophisticated AI frameworks like Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) alongside proprietary technologies such as Speculative Decoding+ and the Dimensity Agentic AI Engine.
• These technologies allow devices to perform complex AI tasks with improved efficiency and reduced power consumption.

In plain English: Agentic AI fundamentally changes how we interact with our devices, enabling them to work more independently on our behalf rather than just responding to commands.

• James Chen, MediaTek’s VP of product and technology marketing, explains that if you tell your device you’re feeling unwell, it could locate medicine, complete the payment, and arrange delivery to your hotel—all with minimal human intervention.

Graphics performance: The Dimensity 9400+ incorporates a 12-core Arm Immortalis-G925 GPU delivering PC-level visual quality with significant power efficiency gains.

• The chipset features opacity micromap (OMM) technology alongside MFRC 2.0+ frame rate conversion.
• These advancements result in up to 40% improved power efficiency while maintaining high-end gaming performance.

Additional features: The new SoC introduces several connectivity improvements supporting next-generation mobile experiences.

• Extended Bluetooth range capability reaches up to 10km, BeiDou satellite support improves location services, and Wi-Fi 7 with tri-band concurrency enhances wireless networking.
• The chipset also supports Dual SIM Dual Active 5G/4G connections for improved connectivity options.

What they’re saying: MediaTek emphasizes the chip’s ability to deliver AI experiences with genuine real-world benefits beyond marketing hype.

• “The Dimensity 9400+ will make it easier to deliver innovative, personalized AI experiences on-device, combined with enhanced performance to ensure your device can handle all tasks with ease,” said JC Hsu, Corporate SVP at MediaTek.

Market impact: The new chipset is poised for rapid adoption with smartphones featuring the Dimensity 9400+ expected to begin shipping later this month.