OpenAI plans to launch a portable, AI-focused smart speaker in 2027, featuring a ring-shaped design without a display and roughly the size of a hockey puck. According to informed sources, the company has been discussing a price range of between $300 and $400. The device is set to be its first foray into the hardware market, although the launch could potentially complicate Apple’s legal case.
Briefly about the main points
- OpenAI is developing a portable AI-powered voice device for 2027.
- The price of the gadget in question ranges from $300 to $400.
- The device will feature moving parts, a camera, sensors, lights and microphones.
- Development is being carried out in collaboration with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom studio.
- Apple’s lawsuit could affect the release schedule only if a court injunction is granted.
Moving parts, lights and sensors for interaction
The device will feature parts that move independently when it responds to a person. According to the developers, this should make it less like a stationary smart speaker and add a sense of lively interaction.
The device features speaker grilles and microphones for commands and conversations. LED indicators will show when the device is listening to the user and are also designed to make communication feel more personal.
The battery-powered device is designed for a variety of uses: it can be held in the hand, placed on a bedside table or a kitchen worktop. The camera and other sensors are designed to detect the surrounding environment and transmit visual information to the AI system.
OpenAI is banking on daily voice usage
The company expects users to interact with the device throughout the day. It is intended to work in a similar way to ChatGPT’s voice mode in smartphone apps, but with more advanced models to enable a more natural conversation.
The gadget is designed so that, over time, it learns more about the user and adapts its conversations and responses accordingly. The smart speaker is seen as a way of gradually entering the hardware business: in the long term OpenAI wants to offer a whole range of devices that could potentially serve as an alternative to modern smartphones.
This type of launch also differs from always-on AI devices such as smart glasses, which have already raised privacy concerns.
Design in collaboration with LoveFrom and a focus on premium materials
The product is being developed in collaboration with LoveFrom studio Johnny Iva. Ive, who shaped the visual language of the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch, was also a co-founder of a hardware start-up acquired by OpenAI last year.
The gadget is expected to have a premium look and be made from high-quality metal. OpenAI hopes to stand out in the smart speaker market, which is dominated by Amazon and Google. A company spokesperson in San Francisco declined to comment on product plans.
OpenAI had previously aimed to unveil the device this year and subsequently launch it on the market. This timetable involves continuing to develop the product whilst the legal dispute with Apple is ongoing.
Apple’s lawsuit could affect the launch schedule
Apple accused OpenAI of allegedly attempting to obtain confidential metal-processing technology via a long-standing Apple supplier. At the same time, it is unclear whether the lawsuit relates specifically to this ring-shaped device, another product, or a scrapped concept.
OpenAI described the allegations as too vague and stated that its first device does not use or infringe Apple’s trade secrets. Following the filing of the lawsuit, the company conducted an internal review and, in its motion to dismiss the case, stated that it was creating «something entirely new and distinct from anything Apple has».
Apple has this week asked the court to issue an injunction against OpenAI. If the court grants the injunction, this could complicate the device’s launch. According to informed sources, development is continuing apace within OpenAI.
