OpenAI is reportedly preparing to enter the consumer hardware market with its first AI-powered smart speaker, developed in collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. According to Bloomberg, the device will lack a traditional display and instead function as an AI companion driven entirely by voice interactions through ChatGPT.
The device is expected to launch in 2027 and is likely to cost more than $300. Unlike existing smart speakers like the Amazon Echo or Google Nest, this product is being built from the ground up as an AI-native computer, with no touchscreen interface. Instead, it will rely on cameras, microphones, sensors, and lighting components, along with movable parts that respond to user interactions. The speaker is said to have a doughnut or hockey puck shape, small enough to be carried around the home.
Jony Ive is playing a leading design role through his hardware startup io, bringing his signature minimalistic aesthetic to the project. The design is not expected to mimic any Apple product, but rather create a distinct identity for OpenAI’s hardware.
OpenAI has confirmed that it is exploring a family of AI-powered devices but has not yet provided official product specifications or launch timelines. This screen-free speaker represents a significant step toward building an ecosystem of AI-powered consumer hardware, extending ChatGPT beyond smartphones and computers into everyday living spaces.
If the timeline holds, OpenAI will enter a market currently dominated by Amazon, Google, and Apple. However, rather than competing on smart home controls, OpenAI is betting on conversational AI as the core user experience. The device could reshape how people interact with artificial intelligence at home.
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