OpenAI develops a new ChatGPT-powered smart speaker designed by John Ive

Summary

Reports indicate that OpenAI is developing a screenless smart speaker, designed by Jony Ive, featuring a camera, sensors, and moving parts. Priced between $300 and $400 and roughly the size of a hockey puck, the device is slated for release in 2027.

Why it matters

This is seen as OpenAI's first major move into hardware. By moving beyond software API limitations, the company aims to compete directly with Apple, Amazon, and Google in the consumer smart home market. Jony Ive's involvement and the premium pricing position the device as a lifestyle product rather than a cheap smart speaker, potentially reshaping expectations for AI-focused hardware. Additionally, the ongoing Apple–OpenAI trade secret lawsuit introduces legal uncertainty that could delay or alter the product roadmap.

Highlights

• There is no screen. Interaction is entirely voice-based, with light and mechanical movement serving as the only visual feedback.
• It includes a camera and environmental sensors. For a device intended to sit in living rooms, this immediately raises privacy concerns.
• Jony Ive's io team joined OpenAI last year. This device will be Ive's first major hardware product for the company.

Critical take

The article relies on a single Bloomberg source. There is no hands-on experience, confirmed technical specifications, or official statement from OpenAI. A $300–$400 device resembling a 'hockey puck' with 'moving parts' and 'cameras' appears more like an ambitious concept than a shippable product. The context of the Apple lawsuit also makes the timeline (announcement this year, launch in 2027) highly uncertain.