OpenAI’s first device is a screenless smart speaker with cameras, Bloomberg reports

OpenAI's long-anticipated first consumer hardware product will be a portable, screenless smart speaker designed to serve as an AI companion in the home, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The device, which features cameras, environmental sensors, and movable components, represents the company's first foray into physical products and a direct challenge to established smart home players.bloomberg+1

A New Category of Home Computer

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, OpenAI still believes it is on track to unveil the device in 2026 and release it in 2027. The speaker is being developed in collaboration with former Apple ↗ 0.29% design chief Jony Ive, whose hardware startup OpenAI acquired in a deal reportedly worth about $6.5 billion. The company has more than 200 employees dedicated to its hardware efforts.engadget+3

The device is expected to retail between $200 and $300 and centers on bringing ChatGPT into a physical home presence. Unlike traditional smart speakers, it will include a built-in camera capable of observing its surroundings, identifying objects, and recognizing conversations happening nearby. A facial recognition feature similar to Apple's Face ID will enable users to authenticate purchases.reuters+4

Competing With Apple and Amazon

The speaker enters a market dominated by Amazon's Echo line and Apple's HomePod, though OpenAI is betting that advances in large language models give it an edge over conventional voice assistants. The device is designed not as a replacement for phones or laptops but as what OpenAI envisions as a third pillar of personal computing — an always-on AI companion that can manage tasks hands-free.youtube

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously described the device's intended experience as "peaceful and calm," enabling users to concentrate on what matters most through "exceptionally intelligent AI that you can rely on over extended periods". Altman reportedly told staff the Jony Ive partnership could add roughly a trillion dollars in value to the company.mashable+1

Broader Hardware Ambitions

Beyond the speaker, OpenAI is developing AI-powered smart glasses, though mass production is not expected until 2028. A smart lamp has been prototyped but may not reach commercial production. OpenAI's chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, first confirmed at Davos in January that the company was targeting a device unveiling in the second half of 2026, and the Bloomberg report indicates that timeline remains intact despite Apple filing a trade secret theft lawsuit against the company.macrumors+5