When word broke that OpenAI’s first hardware device, designed with Apple’s former chief design officer, Jony Ive, could resemble “a smart speaker without a display,” industry analysts were quick to draw comparisons.
The idea of a screen-free conversational gadget taps into a vision many tech giants have tried to execute — with mixed results.
According to The Information, people with direct knowledge of the project say OpenAI has already secured a contract with Luxshare and approached Goertek, two of Apple’s longtime product assemblers, to provide components such as speaker modules. Both firms have deep experience building high-volume consumer hardware: Luxshare assembles iPhones and AirPods, while Goertek works on AirPods, HomePods, and Apple Watches.
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The device is only one part of what insiders describe as a broader “family of devices,” with OpenAI also considering glasses, a digital voice recorder, and a wearable pin. These are reportedly targeted for release between late 2026 and early 2027.
Echoes of Old Experiments
OpenAI’s rumored speaker recalls Amazon’s Echo, which popularized the smart assistant category but has struggled to justify years of losses as Alexa usage plateaued. Yet, by stripping away the display, OpenAI signals that its bet is not on replicating the smart home hub but on creating a device where its conversational AI models are the core product.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, previewed this philosophy in May, describing the first device as pocket-sized, contextually aware, and screen-free — a clean break from the information-overload approach of modern smartphones. That design direction carries Jony Ive’s fingerprints, with his long-standing focus on simplicity and seamless interaction.
At the same time, comparisons to other high-profile failures are inevitable, especially given the project’s chances of failing. Google Glass launched with similar promises of contextual awareness but collapsed amid privacy backlash and limited utility. Snap Spectacles, too, captured hype but never cracked mainstream adoption. And Meta’s Ray-Ban Displays — announced this week with a $799 price tag and a small in-lens display — already face skepticism after CEO Mark Zuckerberg fumbled a live demo call.
A Delicate Moment for Apple
Apple’s own trajectory adds another layer to the story. While Apple bets heavily on the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, OpenAI is pursuing screen-free, minimalist hardware in direct contrast. That divergence may help explain Apple’s unease. According to The Information, the company canceled a meeting with its supply chain teams in China last month, worried that time away from headquarters could accelerate defections to OpenAI.
And defections are indeed mounting. Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and Apple’s former product design head, has been actively poaching Apple employees, promising “less bureaucracy and more collaboration” than they would encounter in Cupertino. For Apple, OpenAI’s poaching spree risks draining key hardware talent just as it navigates the delicate rollout of the Vision Pro.
The AI Pin Debate
Perhaps the most surprising rumor is that OpenAI may be working on a wearable AI pin. That move would put it in direct conversation with Humane’s AI Pin — a product Jony Ive openly criticized — as well as Meta’s experiments with wearable AI. Ive’s reluctance toward such devices makes the rumor notable, if not contradictory. Still, it highlights OpenAI’s willingness to explore uncharted territory despite the failures of early pioneers.
Earlier leaks also hinted at the possibility of in-ear devices, though no such product appeared in the current reported lineup. If OpenAI does move forward with audio wearables, it would enter a field that Apple and Amazon dominate with AirPods and Echo Buds, respectively.
The broader question, however, is whether OpenAI can avoid repeating the mistakes of predecessors. Hardware infused with AI has historically been a minefield: too intrusive, too limited, or too expensive. OpenAI hopes to sidestep those pitfalls and instead create products that feel intuitive and indispensable by leveraging Apple’s supply chain and Ive’s design sensibilities.
Yet the risk remains that consumers have shown hesitation toward AI-first gadgets unless they solve real problems. OpenAI’s ChatGPT has already found a foothold in software, but the leap into physical devices will test whether AI can become a daily companion in the way the smartphone once did.
With prototypes reportedly advancing and contracts already in place with Apple’s manufacturing partners, the race is no longer theoretical. This means OpenAI’s first hardware family is taking shape — and its success or failure could redefine the company’s role in consumer tech.