OpenAI is developing a battery-powered smart speaker with former Apple designer Jony Ive, slated for 2027 at $300-$400. The device features moving parts and a doughnut shape roughly the size of a hockey puck.
OpenAI's unreleased hardware project with design legend Jony Ive will be a display-free smart speaker with distinctive industrial design, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The device measures approximately hockey puck-sized and features a ring or doughnut shape. Its most distinctive element is the inclusion of moving parts built into the hardware itself. These mechanical components serve a functional purpose—they animate when the device responds to commands or interacts with users, essentially giving the speaker a form of physical feedback.
The moving parts will also incorporate lighting elements, combining mechanical and visual feedback to signal the device's operational status. This approach represents a departure from typical smart speakers, which rely on LED indicators or screen displays.
The speaker is battery-powered, making it portable rather than requiring a permanent location near a power outlet. This design choice suggests OpenAI intends the device for use beyond a stationary smart home setup.
Pricing places the device in the premium segment. At $300-$400, it will cost significantly more than established smart speakers from Amazon, Google, and Apple. The higher price point reflects both the Jony Ive design pedigree and the device's unique hardware features.
Launch timing is set for 2027, giving OpenAI roughly three years of development time. The company has been expanding beyond software with its ChatGPT platform, and this hardware project signals a broader strategy to create physical products integrated with its AI capabilities.
The project underscores OpenAI's commitment to design-forward products. Hiring Ive, who spent decades at Apple designing iPhones and other iconic devices, signals the company's intent to create hardware that prioritizes user experience alongside technical functionality.
Details about the device's specific AI capabilities remain limited. As a smart speaker, it will likely handle voice commands and integrate with OpenAI's models, though the exact feature set has not been disclosed.
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