OpenAI Develops ChatGPT Smart Speaker with Jony Ive

OpenAI is developing its first consumer hardware device, a ChatGPT-powered smart speaker, in collaboration with former Apple designer Jony Ive, with plans for a launch as early as early 2027.

The device, expected to retail for between $200 and $300, will feature a built-in camera and sensors designed to observe and interpret its surroundings. According to people familiar with the project, the speaker will identify objects on nearby surfaces, such as items on a table, and monitor conversations in its vicinity to provide context-aware responses. It will also incorporate facial recognition technology similar to Apple's Face ID, allowing users to authenticate purchases by simply looking at the device. Over 200 OpenAI employees are working on the initiative, which aims to integrate advanced AI capabilities into everyday home environments.

This marks OpenAI's entry into the consumer hardware market, building on its acquisition last year of io Products, a startup co-founded by Ive and other former Apple executives, for $6.5 billion. Ive, through his independent design firm LoveFrom, is leading the aesthetic and functional design efforts, while OpenAI's internal teams handle hardware...