OpenAI’s first reported consumer hardware device, developed with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, is expected to be a screenless AI speaker equipped with cameras, microphones and environmental sensors. Reports also suggest that the device may include mechanical components capable of moving on their own.
The product remains under development and has not been officially unveiled. OpenAI is reportedly considering a 2026 introduction, with sales potentially beginning in 2027.
Cameras and Sensors Instead of a Screen
The device is not expected to use a conventional visual interface. Users would interact with it primarily through voice.
Built-in cameras and sensors could help the system identify objects and understand what is happening nearby. This would allow it to use both spoken commands and environmental context when forming responses.
A rechargeable battery may also make it possible to carry the device between rooms. Reported functions include answering questions, playing media and controlling smart-home systems.
A More Natural Voice Interface
The device is expected to use OpenAI’s real-time voice technology, which can follow interruptions and pauses during a conversation.
Unlike many existing voice assistants, the system would not need to wait for a rigid turn-taking sequence. It could stop speaking when interrupted and continue once the user responds.
Moving Parts Remain the Biggest Unknown
The reported inclusion of moving mechanical components is the device’s most unusual feature.
Their purpose is still unclear. They could adjust the position of a camera, change the direction of the device or support another form of physical response. OpenAI has not shown a public prototype or released details about the mechanism.
The available information therefore points to an advanced smart speaker rather than a humanoid robot or a literal “physical body” for ChatGPT.
Jony Ive Leads the Design Work
Jony Ive is involved in the device’s design. OpenAI acquired io, the AI hardware company founded by Ive, in 2025.
The project reportedly includes former Apple engineers and designers who worked on products including the iPhone and Mac. Their work centres on creating a form of AI interaction that does not depend on a phone, keyboard or conventional screen.
Cameras and microphones inside the home would also make privacy controls a central part of the product. OpenAI has not yet explained how data would be processed, how users could disable the camera or how the device would indicate when it is listening.