Representational concept image created by AI
TL;DR
- According to a fresh report, OpenAI’s first hardware device will be a doughnut-shaped portable smart speaker without a display.
- The report says the device will have moving parts, cameras, microphones, and a price between $300 and $400.
- OpenAI reportedly plans to launch the AI-first device in 2027 as the first product in a broader lineup of AI-powered hardware.
We first heard last month that OpenAI’s debut hardware product could be a screenless smart speaker. Now, a new report from Bloomberg adds several fresh details about what the company is building, including its unusual design, premium price, and how it plans to stand out from today’s smart speakers.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, OpenAI’s first device will be a battery-powered smart speaker without a display. That alone makes it stand out from what competitors like Google, Apple, and Amazon offer.
Instead of resembling existing smart speakers, the device is said to have a doughnut-shaped design that’s roughly the size of a hockey puck. It’s reportedly small enough to carry around the house with one hand.
OpenAI reportedly wants the device to feel more like an AI companion than a traditional smart speaker. To achieve that, the device is also said to include moving parts that animate when it interacts with users.
The report also claims the device will include speaker grills, microphones, and lights that indicate when it’s actively listening. A camera system and additional sensors are also reportedly planned, allowing the AI to better understand its surroundings and provide more context-aware responses.
Like ChatGPT’s existing Voice Mode, the speaker is expected to let users have natural conversations. OpenAI plans to use more advanced AI models that can learn about users over time to make conversations feel more personalized.
The report also states that the hardware is being designed in collaboration with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom studio. The company is said to be aiming for a premium look with high-quality metal materials and a premium price between $300 and $400, putting it above most smart speakers but below the cost of a flagship smartphone.
Moreover, the report claims that OpenAI is targeting a 2027 launch for the speaker, while also planning a family of AI devices that could one day replace smartphones.
The new details arrive as OpenAI continues to fight a legal battle with Apple over alleged trade secret theft. Apple claims OpenAI borrowed confidential manufacturing techniques for an upcoming device, allegations that OpenAI has denied.
Bloomberg reports that OpenAI believes its hardware is fundamentally different from anything Apple has built and that it continues to push ahead with development despite the lawsuit.
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