Vertu launches AI-powered Alphafold foldable phone for executives, starting at $6,880

Luxury smartphone manufacturer Vertu unveiled the Alphafold on Thursday, a foldable device powered by an AI agent designed to help executives manage business operations remotely. The phone combines high-end hardware with enterprise-focused artificial intelligence capabilities, marking the company's latest effort to remain relevant in the modern smartphone market by targeting affluent business leaders.

The Alphafold starts at $6,880 for the calfskin version, with premium models featuring bespoke finishes including alligator leather, 18K gold, and natural diamond accents. Vertu's highest-end standard model is priced at $46,800, with additional customization options available. The device is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor and features an 8.05-inch foldable display, 6.53-inch outer screen, 6,500 mAh battery, and satellite communication capabilities. The hinge is constructed from metal, titanium, and carbon-fiber components and rated for up to 650,000 folds.

The Alphafold is equipped with Hermes Agent, built on Nous Research's open-source Hermes project, which integrates with enterprise software systems including ERP and CRM platforms. The AI agent can coordinate tasks such as approvals, scheduling, sales tracking, travel planning, and operational reporting through natural-language commands. It can route requests across multiple AI models including OpenAI's GPT, Anthropic's Claude, and Google's Gemini, while integrating with over 80 third-party applications and native phone functions.

Vertu CEO Molly Ma noted that existing AI features on mainstream smartphones remain focused on consumer-level tools like image editing and voice assistance, creating an opportunity for enterprise-oriented AI workflows. She highlighted earlier AI-agent smartphone experiments in China that faced challenges over data privacy concerns, positioning the Alphafold as addressing these issues through a privacy-focused architecture.

The device includes a proprietary A5 security chip designed to isolate authentication keys, biometric credentials, and sensitive enterprise information from the main operating system. Commercially sensitive data can be processed locally on the device, while data sent to external AI models is redacted or tokenized beforehand. However, Vertu acknowledged that the system has not yet undergone third-party security audits or independent certification, though the company stated that such audits and certifications remain on its roadmap as a "next-stage commitment." Phone-to-ERP deployments will be customized for each customer with pricing varying based on existing enterprise systems.