Honor’s New AI Agent Can Control Apps Like a Human—No APIs Needed!

Honor has unveiled the Honor UI Agent, an AI assistant powered by Google’s Gemini 2, capable of interacting with a smartphone’s graphical interface to perform tasks like booking restaurants. Unlike traditional AI assistants that rely on APIs, it visually navigates apps and understands UI elements autonomously. The AI runs on-device, enhancing privacy and reducing cloud dependency. Honor claims future versions will operate seamlessly in the background. The AI also builds a personal knowledge base to tailor recommendations. Announced at MWC 2025, this initiative is part of Honor’s $10 billion Alpha Plan. Honor also committed to 7 years of software updates for its flagship Magic 7 Pro and introduced new gadgets like the MagicBook Pro 14 and Watch 5 Ultra.

Honor’s New AI Agent Can Control Apps Like a Human—No APIs Needed!

Honor has introduced its new Honor UI Agent, an AI-powered assistant capable of interacting with a smartphone’s graphical user interface (GUI) to perform tasks on behalf of the user. Powered by Google’s Gemini 2 model, this AI agent aims to streamline everyday activities, such as booking a restaurant reservation, without requiring direct user input.

A New Approach to AI Assistants

Unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, the Honor UI Agent differs from conventional AI assistants by navigating apps visually instead of relying on APIs. This method enables it to execute tasks autonomously by recognizing UI elements and understanding on-screen content.

During a demonstration, an Honor representative asked the AI to book a restaurant for four people, specifying “local food.” The AI used location context to identify a Spanish restaurant in Barcelona and attempted to complete the booking through OpenTable. However, when a credit card was required for confirmation, the user had to intervene—highlighting some limitations of the current implementation.

Unlike Google’s Duplex system, which directly interacts with human agents over the phone, Honor’s UI Agent visually processes and executes steps in an app. While the current version visibly performs tasks on-screen, Honor claims future updates will allow it to work in the background seamlessly.

Honor’s AI Strategy and Industry Positioning

The Honor UI Agent is part of the company’s broader $10 billion “Honor Alpha Plan”, a long-term AI initiative under the leadership of new CEO Jian Li. This strategy focuses on integrating AI deeply into Honor’s devices while prioritizing on-device processing to reduce reliance on cloud computing.

Unlike Apple, Samsung, and Google—who depend on external APIs to facilitate AI-powered tasks—Honor’s method memorizes processes and follows semantic UI elements, making it more cost-effective and independent.

Additionally, the company has partnered with Qualcomm to develop an on-device personal knowledge base, which allows the AI to learn user preferences over time. For example, if a user frequently orders a specific type of food, the AI can make recommendations based on past behavior.

Other Announcements at MWC 2025

Alongside the AI assistant, Honor committed to seven years of software updates for its flagship Magic 7 Pro, aligning with the update policies of Google and Samsung. The company also introduced several new devices, including:

• Honor Earbuds Open (new wireless earbuds)
• Honor Watch 5 Ultra (smartwatch)
• Honor Pad V9 (tablet)
• Honor MagicBook Pro 14 (laptop)

While these products will be available in various international markets, they are not expected to launch in the United States. Honor has traditionally focused on markets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, where its smartphones and AI-driven devices have gained significant traction. The company continues to expand its AI ecosystem, integrating advanced on-device processing and long-term software support to enhance user experience. However, its absence from the U.S. market remains due to regulatory and business strategy considerations.