OpenAI to launch $300 doughnut-shaped AI speaker in 2027

OpenAI is developing a portable, doughnut-shaped smart speaker as its first consumer hardware product, with a planned launch in 2027 and a price between $300 and $400, according to reports. The device is being designed in collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive and his firm, LoveFrom.

The screen-free, battery-powered speaker is roughly the size of a hockey puck and is intended to be carried around a home or placed on surfaces. It will feature moving parts and dynamic lighting designed to make its AI interactions feel more expressive and alive, visually indicating when it is listening or responding. The device will include microphones, speaker grills, a camera system, and environmental sensors to provide real-time context to its AI models.

Powered by advanced versions of OpenAI's voice AI technology, similar to ChatGPT's voice mode, the device is positioned as an "AI-first computer" rather than a conventional smart speaker. It is expected to learn user routines over time to provide personalized assistance for daily planning, research, and controlling connected devices.

The project emerges amid a legal dispute with Apple, which filed a lawsuit alleging OpenAI...