Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus unveiled a new artificial intelligence smartphone, in its latest push to popularize AI handsets so that more consumers can access cutting-edge features at affordable prices.

Li Jie, president of OnePlus China, said the drive behind the popularization of AI smartphones is to enable more people to use AI. The new phone OnePlus Ace 3V series not only aims to popularize the flagship experience, but also to usher in an era of AI smartphone popularization.

Priced from 1,999 yuan ($277), the new phone is positioned by OnePlus to be the first AI smartphone for young people. It came amid intensified competition among Chinese companies to ramp up research and development on AI.

As AI impacts all corners of the devices market, smartphones are expected to be the device driving the AI revolution into every home, according to a report by global market consultancy IDC.

IDC's preliminary forecast suggests 170 million next-generation AI smartphones will be shipped in 2024, representing almost 15 percent of total smartphone shipments and a sizeable jump from the roughly 51 million shipped in 2023.