OpenAI plans to launch its first consumer hardware device in 2027: a doughnut-shaped, battery-powered smart speaker roughly the size of a hockey puck. Priced between $300 and $400, the screenless assistant features moving parts, a camera, and sensors designed to serve as a proactive, humanlike AI companion in the home.
The artificial intelligence developer is taking its first step into physical consumer gadgets, moving beyond software apps to build a dedicated device that acts as a physical manifestation of ChatGPT. Developed in partnership with the design studio LoveFrom, founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, the hardware project aims to create a deeply personalized assistant that learns from its owner over time.
Design, Mechanics, and Portability of the New AI Device
According to industry reporting, the upcoming hardware product departs from conventional rectangular smart speakers. Constructed from high-quality metal with a premium look, the gadget is shaped like a doughnut and built to be easily carried around the house with one hand, much like Amazon’s discontinued Tap speaker. It includes a rechargeable battery, speaker grills, microphones, a camera, and environmental sensors.
Unlike standard voice assistants, the device includes distinct moving parts. Some of these mechanical elements move independently to indicate when the system is responding or interacting, giving the assistant a sense of physical presence.
Pricing Strategy and Market Position
Market observers note that the pricing places the hardware well above typical home audio equipment. Sam Altman and Jony Ive have described prototypes as jaw-droppingly good
and exciting,
emphasizing that the product possesses incredible contextual awareness
about a user’s daily life, as noted in technology coverage.
The speaker is designed to run on advanced AI voice models, connecting users to messaging, media playback, smart home control, and personal data such as emails. Over time, the software is engineered to become proactive, anticipating needs and surfacing information before being asked.
Legal Conflict With Apple Over Trade Secrets
The hardware division’s progress intersects with a high-stakes legal battle. Apple filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of hiring former Apple employees to misappropriate confidential trade secrets, including a proprietary metal finishing technique used in hardware development. Apple’s court filing asserts that OpenAI’s nascent hardware business now rests on the shakiest of foundations, rotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets,
according to legal documentation.
Apple has requested a court injunction that could prohibit OpenAI from releasing hardware. In response, OpenAI filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that its upcoming products are entirely distinct from Apple’s offerings.
“OpenAI is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple.”
OpenAI, in a court filing cited by Pymnts
OpenAI further stated in its court filing that Apple should not be permitted to use a pretextual lawsuit to compensate for its own recruitment shortcomings and challenges in integrating artificial intelligence into consumer products.
Future Timeline and Hardware Expansion
While industry sources indicate that OpenAI plans to unveil the device later this year ahead of a commercial rollout, the official launch window remains targeted for 2027. This schedule depends heavily on how the ongoing litigation proceeds in court. Beyond the initial speaker, internal hardware plans reportedly encompass a broader lineup of roughly five devices, including potential wearables, home robotics concepts, and eventual smartphone alternatives.
