A new type of smartphone, powered by a system-level AI assistant from Bytedance, has ignited a fierce debate about the future of mobile interaction. The "Bean" AI phone, developed in partnership with ZTE, promises to automate complex tasks across different apps with simple voice commands. However, its launch has been met not with universal acclaim, but with a swift and coordinated blockade from major tech platforms, setting the stage for a pivotal conflict over control, security, and the next evolution of the smart device.
The "Bean" Phone's Bold Promise and Swift Backlash
The device, officially named the nubia M153 "Bean Assistant" phone, is an engineering sample that quickly captured the tech world's attention. Priced at CNY 3,499, its initial batch sold out on ZTE's official store on December 1st, with resale prices on secondary platforms like Xianyu skyrocketing to between CNY 4,200 and an astonishing CNY 12,900. The core appeal lies in its deep integration of Bytedance's Doubao AI model, which is granted permissions to simulate human touch and navigation to perform multi-step tasks. For instance, a user could ask it to compare prices for a product across JD.com, Taobao, and Pinduoduo, then automatically purchase the cheapest option—all without manually opening a single app.
Key Product & Event Timeline:
- Product: nubia M153 "Bean Assistant" Phone (Engineering Sample)
- AI Provider: Bytedance's Doubao (Bean) AI Model
- Hardware Partner: ZTE (nubia)
- Official Launch/Preview: December 1, 2025
- Official Sold-Out: December 2, 2025
- Official Price: CNY 3,499
- Reported Resale Price Range: CNY 4,200 - CNY 12,900
- Key App Restrictions Begin: Early December 2025 (WeChat, Alibaba apps, games, banking apps)
- Doubao Team Policy Adjustment: December 5, 2025 (Disabled financial app operations, restricted gaming use)
The Great Walled Garden Closes Its Gates
This very capability triggered an immediate defensive reaction from the guardians of today's mobile ecosystem. Within days, a wave of restrictions hit the device. Major platforms, including WeChat, Alibaba's suite of apps (Taobao, Xianyu, Taobao Flash Sales, Damai), and even popular games like Honor of Kings, began detecting and blocking the AI's automated interactions. The rationale cited is familiar: security. The AI's ability to programmatically control apps shares technical similarities with tools used for botting, spamming, and cheating, posing risks to account integrity and data fairness. Financial apps, representing the highest security tier, went further, requiring users to completely disable the AI assistant before granting access.
Reported AI Capabilities vs. App Restrictions:
| AI Capability (As Reported) | Example User Command | Apps/Platforms Restricting This Capability |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-App Comparison & Purchase | "Find and buy the cheapest headphones on JD, Taobao, and Pinduoduo." | Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo (inferred), Alipay |
| Automated Content Creation | "Edit this video for me." | Likely app-specific (e.g., CapCut, social media) |
| Automated Test/Form Completion | "Help me pass the B站 membership exam." | Bilibili, other platforms with tests |
| Information Retrieval & Display | "Read my bank balance." | All major Chinese banking apps |
| General Automated Navigation | "Open WeChat and post a status." | WeChat, others detecting "simulated operation" |
A Deeper Conflict Over the Future "Entry Point"
The reaction transcends simple security concerns and strikes at a fundamental business model. For over a decade, the app icon and its dedicated interface have been the primary "entry point" for digital services. The Bean phone's AI assistant threatens to make those individual interfaces obsolete, acting as a universal meta-layer that fulfills user intent directly. This challenges the control super-apps have over user engagement, data flow, and commercial ecosystems. As Luo Yonghao (better known as "Old Luo"), founder of the defunct Smartisan phone brand, pointed out at a recent conference, this move puts Bytedance "on the opposite side of history" in the eyes of entrenched players. He praised the attempt, noting that while giants like Apple and Huawei have been cautious, Bytedance, "with less baggage," made the bold first move.
The Technical and Commercial Hurdles Exposed
The blockade has starkly illuminated the immense practical challenges facing such an ambitious AI-integration model. Privacy is a paramount concern, with demonstrations showing the AI could read sensitive information like bank balances without a password prompt, despite claims of following "minimum necessary" data principles. The business model is also unclear—who pays for the substantial computational costs of widespread AI automation? Furthermore, the efficiency and reliability of AI in complex, nuanced real-world scenarios remain unproven compared to human judgment. Perhaps most critically, the incident reveals the dependency on hardware partners willing to cede deep system control. Mainstream phone manufacturers may be reluctant to hand over their core user experience to a third-party AI model.
Industry Reckoning and a Cautious Path Forward
In response to the mounting pressure, the Doubao team issued an adjustment notice on December 5th, temporarily disabling the AI's ability to operate financial apps and restricting its use in gaming and point-farming scenarios. This is a tactical retreat that acknowledges the current power dynamics while keeping the conversation alive. The episode has effectively served as a high-profile stress test for the concept of "AI phones," forcing the entire industry to confront difficult questions about interoperability, platform power, and user agency. While the immediate path for the Bean phone is constrained, it has undeniably accelerated the timeline for a crucial discussion. As Luo Yonghao concluded, the underlying technological shift is inevitable: "The AI revolution is unstoppable... AI assistants will eventually be everywhere, and we will find our lives completely inseparable from them." The battle for the soul of the next-generation smartphone has now officially begun.