OpenAI is developing a screenless smart speaker to serve as a personalised companion for the home, though an ongoing legal dispute with Apple may delay its 2027 release.
Reports indicate the device will function as a human-like assistant capable of controlling smart home gadgets, playing media, and handling messages. It aims to provide full access to ChatGPT capabilities without relying on a display screen.
Hardware designed to feel responsive
Internally, OpenAI describes the product as a new type of home computer for the AI era. The unit includes a camera and other sensors to understand the user’s surroundings and context. It features a rechargeable battery, allowing it to be carried from room to room.
The defining feature will reportedly be its personality. The device is meant to become more personalised and proactive as it learns about its owner. It should anticipate needs, offer information on its own, and access personal data such as emails.
Physical components are included to allow movement on their own. The goal is to make the device seem alive rather than an object that simply responds to commands. This approach aligns with CEO Sam Altman’s aim of building a computer similar to the one in the film “Her”.
Heavy anthropomorphism has drawn criticism for its potential to trigger psychotic episodes, a risk previously noted with OpenAI’s extremely sycophantic GPT-4o model.
Real-time communication runs on an expanded version of ChatGPT Voice Mode called GPT-Live. Introduced recently, this mode allows the system to listen and speak simultaneously. It lets the device adapt more naturally during conversations, reinforcing the impression that it is human.
Legal dispute with Apple
Apple sued OpenAI last week over alleged theft of trade secrets. The lawsuit focuses in part on Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and a co-founder of io Products. Tan previously led iPhone product design at Apple.
Apple accuses him of running a campaign to obtain confidential information about future Apple products. The company claims a former iPhone engineer hacked into its systems to get technical presentations. Apple called OpenAI’s hardware ambitions “rotten at the core”.
OpenAI denies the allegations. The company says there is no evidence the lawsuit has merit and stresses the importance of fair competition and employees’ freedom to choose where they work. OpenAI states the planned device is fundamentally different from Apple products and does not violate any trade secrets. Apple acknowledges that only a discovery process can determine whether OpenAI used its technology.
Bloomberg reports that OpenAI plans to unveil the device later this year and release it in 2027. Apple is seeking an injunction against OpenAI’s hardware efforts, which could delay the launch.
Wider hardware ambitions
The AI smart speaker is likely just the beginning. Bloomberg reports that OpenAI’s hardware division is working on about five products. Those projects reportedly include a portable AI device designed to replace a phone, a wearable pendant, and home robotics.
Apple itself is preparing its own family of AI-focused home devices. This includes a smart home command centre with a seven-inch display, facial recognition, and a new operating system. Versions with a screen mounted on a robotic arm and a smart home security system are also in the works.
What it means
Users should expect a device that moves and speaks without a screen, relying on voice and visual context to guide interactions. However, the legal battle between the two tech giants adds uncertainty to the timeline, potentially pushing the market arrival beyond the current 2027 target.
