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In June, OpenAI acquired io, a company founded by the renowned Apple designer Sir Jony Ive. Since the announcement, there has been a flurry of speculation about new devices powered by ChatGPT, but no official details have been released yet. Now, a trusted source indicates that OpenAI is developing an entire lineup of AI hardware products.
What are their plans?
According to The Information, OpenAI has been recruiting top hardware engineers away from Apple and collaborating with longstanding supply chain partners. It appears that the company envisions launching multiple AI-enabled gadgets in the coming years.
One of these products resembles a smart speaker without a screen, as per sources. OpenAI has also explored the idea of creating glasses, digital voice recorders, and wearable pins. The company aims to roll out these first devices around late 2026 or early 2027.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that OpenAI is working on a “new device that will move consumers beyond screens.” Details about its appearance remain unclear, and it’s uncertain whether this device will be wearable or serve a different purpose.
Looking at the bigger picture:
Before officially acquiring io, OpenAI had already been covertly working with Jony Ive on projects involving headphones and other camera-equipped devices for several years. This suggests that the first AI hardware product from OpenAI will be a hybrid of various functionalities.
It’s worth noting that many companies have ventured into AI hardware territory. Humane’s AI Pin was short-lived and didn’t gain much traction, while the Rabbit R1 didn’t make significant waves either. The Plaud Note, however, has seen remarkable success. It will be interesting to see how OpenAI attempts to revolutionize this emerging segment and perhaps find its “iPhone moment.”
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