OpenAI is preparing to launch its first consumer hardware product: a portable, screen-free AI speaker designed to serve as a conversational companion rather than a traditional smart speaker, according to Bloomberg News.
The device is expected to control smart appliances, play media and respond to queries. Powered by ChatGPT, it will get to know the user to anticipate their needs and provide proactive responses. This deep personalization is what OpenAI hopes will set its device apart.
The device will use GPT-Live, the advanced version of ChatGPT’s voice mode that rolled out this month and can be interrupted mid-speech for a more natural feel to conversations. It will also have cameras and sensors to help it understand the user’s surroundings, the news outlet reported.
It will have a rechargeable battery option so users can move it from room to room. The speaker is set to be unveiled this year, and it is one of five products OpenAI is developing. Another potential product is a mobile AI device that can replace the smartphone.
The product remains under development, and OpenAI has not publicly confirmed its specifications or release date.
The reported design offers the clearest indication yet of how OpenAI and former Apple design chief Jony Ive envision AI hardware. Instead of another screen-based device, the companies appear to be betting that AI interactions will increasingly take place through voice and environmental awareness. OpenAI acquired Ive’s startup, io, for $6.5 billion last year, making hardware a strategic priority.
The project enters an increasingly crowded market. Amazon, Apple and Google already offer voice-controlled smart speakers, while startups such as Humane and Rabbit have struggled to convince consumers they need dedicated AI hardware. OpenAI’s challenge will be demonstrating that a conversational AI companion provides enough value to justify another device in the home.
The project also faces legal uncertainty. Apple recently sued OpenAI, io and several former Apple employees, alleging trade-secret theft related to OpenAI’s hardware efforts. OpenAI has denied wrongdoing.