StepFun enters AI agent race, Chairman says "future OS must be cross-device"

According to a report from QbitAI, StepFun (Jieyue Xingchen) chairman Yin Qi stated at a recent public event that the company is entering the AI agent space and proposed a vision for the future operating system — "the future OS must be cross-device." This strategic declaration signals that StepFun is extending from large model development toward a higher-level agent platform.

StepFun is one of the most closely watched emerging AI companies in China, previously known primarily for its self-developed large language models. Yin Qi, a co-founder of computer vision company Megvii, brings deep technical and industry expertise. His remarks about an agent OS suggest StepFun may be building an AI operating system layer spanning multiple endpoints including phones, PCs, and vehicles.

The "cross-device" concept is noteworthy. Unlike traditional single-device operating systems, a cross-device OS would allow AI capabilities to flow seamlessly across different hardware — a task started on one device could be continued on another, with the agent handling coordination and orchestration.

This direction aligns with global AI industry trends. From OpenAI's Agent plans to Anthropic's Computer Use feature to similar moves by domestic Chinese players, agents are widely seen as AI's next critical battleground. Competition at the operating system level determines who dominates the underlying ecosystem.

Yin Qi did not reveal a specific timeline or product details for StepFun's agent OS. However, given the company's technical foundation, industry observers speculate it may build a cross-device AI Agent framework on top of its proprietary large models, focusing primarily on mobile and in-vehicle scenarios.

StepFun's entry intensifies competition in China's agent track. From model capabilities to platform ecosystems, from single products to OS-level layouts, AI companies are racing to find differentiating paths.