Sam Altman’s OpenAI is reportedly preparing to enter the consumer hardware market with its first dedicated AI device, and it may look very different from anything available today. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the ChatGPT maker is working on a compact AI-first smart speaker that is expected to launch in 2027.
The report says the device could cost between $300 (around Rs 29,000) and $400 and feature a unique design to make conversations with AI feel more natural.
As per Bloomberg, the upcoming device will be shaped like a doughnut and will be roughly the size of a hockey puck. Unlike traditional smart speakers, it will not include a display.
Instead, OpenAI is focusing on voice interactions and AI capabilities. The compact design is also rumoured to make it easy to carry around the house with one hand.
As per the report, the US-based AI startup wants users to interact with the device throughout the day, much like they currently use ChatGPT’s Voice Mode on smartphones. However, the new hardware is said to use more advanced AI models that can deliver more human-like conversations.
The report adds that the device will gradually learn more about its users over time. This will allow it to personalise conversations and respond in a more natural way.
One of the biggest highlights of the upcoming product could be its moving parts.
Bloomberg reports that the device will include components that move while interacting with users. It is also expected to feature built-in microphones, speaker grills, indicator lights that show when it is listening, and a camera system with sensors that can understand its surroundings and provide visual context to the AI.
The hardware is being designed in collaboration with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom studio. Ive, the former Apple design chief, is known for designing products such as the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch.
Bloomberg says the device is expected to feature premium materials, including high-quality metal to give it a premium look and feel.
The report comes at a time when OpenAI and Apple are locked in a legal dispute over alleged trade secret violations. Apple claims OpenAI copied confidential manufacturing techniques, an allegation the ChatGPT maker has denied.
In a court filing, the Sam Altman-led startup said” “OpenAI is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple.
