Qualcomm eyes wider AI reach in India with affordable 5G and smart devices

Qualcomm continues to strengthen its dominance in India’s mobile market while laying the groundwork for broader AI adoption across all device tiers. Speaking to Moneycontrol, Chris Patrick, senior vice president and GM for mobile handsets at Qualcomm, highlighted the company’s decades-long mission to “connect the unconnected” and bring advanced technology to large populations at affordable price points.

Patrick reflected on Qualcomm’s history, from pioneering CDMA to today’s focus on AI, graphics, and connectivity innovations. “Our goal has always been how do we meet the needs of multiple tiers, from premium devices down to highly accessible solutions,” he said. He pointed to the Snapdragon 4635, launched in India last year, which combines advanced 5G and camera capabilities with affordability—a model example of Qualcomm’s commitment to making next-gen technology accessible to wider audiences.

With AI rapidly evolving, Qualcomm is prioritizing on-device AI to complement cloud services. Patrick noted that while cloud AI offers impressive capabilities, it comes with high energy costs and resource constraints. “We want to make sure the productivity boost that AI can provide is not confined to flagship devices,” he said. The company aims to “waterfall” AI innovations from premium smartphones to mid-range and entry-level devices, ensuring broader access across tier-two and tier-three cities.

Partnerships remain a key enabler of this strategy. Qualcomm works with local device makers, ISVs, and model providers to deliver technologies that resonate with users in different regions. Patrick emphasized that India, hosting Qualcomm’s largest engineering center outside the US, has played a critical role in shaping the company’s global innovation pipeline over the past 20 years. “The leadership and engineering talent in India are woven into virtually everything we do,” he said.