OpenAI's first hardware device sold out in 12 hours, now reselling for up to $1,850 on eBay

I tried out OpenAI's new AI keypad -- which will be fun for some coders and slightly mystifying to everyone else

OpenAI launched its first piece of hardware last week -- a fancy little keypad built to pair with ChatGPT. Micro, which was developed in collaboration with specialty keyboard designer Work Louder, is essentially an artisanal workplace novelty that tech-savvy users will love and that may leave everyone else a little puzzled. OpenAI's entrance into the hardware market hasn't arrived without drama. Several weeks ago, Apple sued the AI lab and accused it of trade theft -- kicking off what's certain to be a long-simmering legal battle. Meanwhile, news of another smart home product in development at OpenAI has also raised eyebrows, as the supposed device -- which is being built to pair with ChatGPT -- was reportedly developed by former Apple engineers. Until the legal battle works itself out and OpenAI's broader hardware ambitions materialize, the most the startup has to offer is Micro -- a funky little keypad clearly engineered to delight the tech industry's code monkeys. OpenAI sent TechCrunch a Micro test unit. The first big thing you notice when initially handling the keypad is that it's a sturdy little device -- enough so that if the AI accessory thing doesn't end up working out, it could easily double as a paperweight. The other thing you might notice (and I am not the only one to point this out), is that the packaging -- an immaculate white box with a sleek, clean aesthetic -- is pretty Apple-coded. Make of that what you will. The keypad's layout involves six frosted "agent" keys at the top of the pad, which can be customized to carry out specific tasks within ChatGPT or its agentic coding tool Codex. Below them are six command keys, which can be used to control those programs. You can pair your Micro with your computer either through a Bluetooth connection or a USB cable. Perhaps the most convenient thing Micro offers is a button for voice dictation -- meaning you simply tell the app what you want done and it will get busy working on your behalf. Just hold down the dictation button and start talking. When you're done, tap the "send" button next to it to submit your request. You can customize your Micro keypad within ChatGPT itself, where a Micro tab allows you to adjust everything from the brightness of the light from the keys to the specific commands and projects you want tied to those keys. Coders -- the device's actual target audience -- haven't exactly embraced it. Reviews by Redditors have largely negative, with one Reddit user calling it "a prank and not a real product," and others saying serious coders won't touch it. A review by the smaller independent outlet Aftermath was even harsher, calling the $230 price tag hard to justify next to cheaper DIY and off-the-shelf alternatives. (The title of that review: "OpenAI's expensive macropad feels engineered to piss me off specifically.") It's definitely the case that new users may need some time to figure out how Micro works and what to do with it. Once I figured out how to program the keypad to my liking, I found it was actually pretty fun. You can assign various ChatGPT sessions to specific keys, which then allows you to easily toggle back and forth between all of your various projects. When you combine that with the dictation button, it makes the whole experience considerably more efficient and enjoyable. But there's still a learning curve. Micro's buttons are color-coded. White means an agent is idle, blue means its thinking, green means a task is complete, and red means there's been an error. You'll need to memorize that, along with memorizing which specific projects are coded to each key. The big question is whether the Micro keypad is functionally easier to use than just continuing to work on your laptop. In short: Why would I spend a week learning how to program and operate this thing when I already know how to use my computer's mouse and keyboard? Ultimately, your experience with the Micro will depend heavily on how much you use ChatGPT. Since I don't use AI much day to day, I'm probably not the target audience for it. That said, if you're a ChatGPT power user, have $230 to spare, and like vintage-looking hardware with clicky buttons, Micro probably isn't the worst purchase you could make -- it might even brighten your day a little.

OpenAI launches Codex Micro hardware for AI coding

OpenAI's Codex Micro keyboard has just 13 mechanical switches OpenAI OpenAI, the AI lab that brought us ChatGPT, which simultaneously evoked awe, fear, and fascination when it first launched in 2023, has released its first-ever hardware product, a $230 mini-keyboard that's designed to enhance the workflow of users of Codex, the company's specialized AI coding agent. Called the Codex Micro, the device was created in collaboration with specialist keyboard maker Work Louder and is sold through OpenAI's Supply Co. store. OpenAI describes it as a "command center for agentic work," although "keyboard" is slightly generous, as with only 13 mechanical switches, the device is really a programmable macro pad designed to sit beside a normal keyboard. OpenAI built the device specifically for Codex users who increasingly find themselves supervising several AI agents and coding tasks at once. The pad features 13 mechanical keys, including six translucent Agent Keys that can each be linked to a different Codex conversation. Pressing one of the agent keys immediately opens the corresponding chat. Each key uses live RGB lighting to show whether its assigned agent is idle, working, waiting for input, finished, or has encountered an error. This allows users to check the progress of several tasks at a glance instead of repeatedly opening different chats to see whether Codex has completed them. The other six Command Keys come labeled and preconfigured for frequently used actions such as starting a new chat, approving or rejecting a request, activating push-to-talk, and sending a prompt. Users can remap them to other Codex functions and replace the keycaps with matching icons from the additional set included with the device. Hitting the push-to-talk button activates and uses the microphone connected to the user's computer, as the Codex Micro doesn't come with a microphone. The device also features a small joystick, likely the 13th key, that can trigger reusable Codex Skills and common workflows such as debugging an error, reviewing a pull request, or refactoring code. Perhaps the Codex Micro's most interesting feature is a rotary dial that lets the user adjust the agent's reasoning level depending on the difficulty of the task. Together, the controls turn what would normally involve several clicks and chat switches into single physical actions, making it easier to keep multiple agents moving without constantly interrupting the main coding workflow. The hardware connects through Bluetooth or USB-C and supports Mac and Windows. The body combines CNC-machined polycarbonate and aluminum with PBT and polycarbonate keycaps. Buyers can choose clicky or silent mechanical switches. The Codex Micro is not really new hardware. Peel off the branding, and it's Work Louder's existing Creator Micro 2 with the same 13 mechanical switches, rotary encoder, planar joystick, and touch sensor, simply remapped for OpenAI. For a long time, OpenAI had teased a mysterious, screen-free device that it was developing with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, with many expecting that to be the company's first hardware product. However, that plan seems to have hit a snag, as days before the Codex Micro appeared, Apple sued OpenAI, accusing it of stealing trade secrets to build its hardware and of poaching ex-Apple staff for confidential product details. Regardless, Codex Micro may actually be a befitting first hardware product, as Codex has grown into one of OpenAI's biggest bets. The company announced in June that Codex had surpassed 5 million weekly active users, growing 6x since February. The hardware sold out in less than 24 hours after launch.

OpenAI's first hardware device debuted at $230. Now, it's on eBay for $1,850 | Fortune

OpenAI's foray into hardware has transfixed techies for more than a year, with speculation about the AI company's forthcoming mystery gadget ranging from a smart speaker to a wearable device. It turns out, OpenAI's first hardware device is a bit more prosaic: a keyboard. On July 15, OpenAI debuted the Codex Micro, a $230 square keyboard with a 12-key pad, a joystick, and neon lights. Targeted specifically at computer coders who use OpenAI's Codex tool, the Micro keyboard is a one-off project that OpenAI developed with boutique keyboard firm Work Louder. It's completely separate from the consumer gadget -- the so-called AI companion -- that's expected to be released sometime next year. That hasn't crimped demand for the Codex Micro keyboard however. It sold out the day it went on sale in about 12 hours, and some of the lucky few who snagged one are now re-selling them on eBay. One is listed now for $1,850, though the seller is unlikely to make the sale. Looking at past sales on eBay, the biggest bounty was $1,250, listed on July 16, one day after release. Prices have steadily declined since, selling for around $800-$1,000 in the next week after release. Today, they're going for around $450, which is still well above the list price. Most sellers are in the U.S., though others hail from France, the Netherlands, and Ireland. The device aims to make it easier for developers to track their progress in Codex, OpenAI's flagship coding assistant that rivals Anthropic's Claude Code. An LED ring around the keyboard lights up red, orange, green, or blue, to signal if there's an error or if the AI agent is still working on a task, for example. Turning the dial adjusts the AI's effort for a given task. The joystick initiates common tasks such as debugging an error or refactoring code. Still, $450 for a tiny keyboard is not necessarily a bargain. Some of the product's target audience -- programmers -- were quick to call it superfluous. "You can get a programmable keyboard, with a knob, for 18 bucks," said one Redditor. Another commenter posted a link to open-source software to program any keyboard to have similar functions. Of course, anyone buying one is likely viewing it as a collectible -- an artifact from the dawn of the AI age, when OpenAI reigned as one of the new technology's standard bearers. OpenAI has no plans to restock the device, but Work Louder, company that manufactured the product in partnership with OpenAI, sells a version on its website that features the Codex integration (but which doesn't bear the OpenAI branding). Lacking hardware experience, OpenAI taps Work Louder The idea for the Codex Micro originated on OpenAI's merchandise team, which intended to sell the product in its online store, Supply Co. The store began as a private place for OpenAI employees to grab some company swag. But in December 2025, OpenAI briefly opened it to the public in honor of its tenth anniversary, Quartz reports. Social media promptly did what social media does best, and made fun of the items. Some people called the minimalist, streetwear-inspired hoodies and tote bags "tasteslop" and "nerd merch," according to The Wall Street Journal. "OpenX started to get a little bit of heat for their merch," said Mike Di Genova, co-founder of Work Louder. That pushed the OpenAI team to want to "step up their merch game." OpenAI reached out to Di Genova later that month, looking to develop a product geared toward developers, who the company sees as an early adopter group. OpenAI and Work Louder finalized their concept in a few months, and OpenAI placed a large order of the devices. "I thought it was going to take at least a month to sell through the inventory," Di Genova said, laughing in disbelief. "It was limited stock, but they purchased a lot." (Neither or OpenAI or Work Louder were willing to disclose the exact number.) A testing ground for future OpenAI devices The Micro is not directly connected with OpenAI's buzzy upcoming hardware device, which it's currently cooking up with ex-Apple designer Jony Ive. But it's a testing ground that's proving out two concepts key to that effort: Hardware (a physical way to interact with OpenAI's software), and voice. Now that all the Micro devices are out in the wild, OpenAI is monitoring user feedback and discussing it regularly in a Slack channel, which Di Genova is also a part of. The Micro has a microphone button. Pressing it gives them easy access to speak to the AI, providing verbal instructions. OpenAI last week released a digital microphone button for ChatGPT Work, a desktop app that merges ChatGPT and Codex. OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman called voice the "interface of the future" for computing since "it means the computer moves closer to you rather than you having to contort yourself around the machine." He predicted that we will one day look back on "clicking and typing" as a "phase." It remains to be seen if Brockman's prediction is correct, and if it's feasible to do detailed tasks on the computer, such as in-depth editing and prompting, exclusively through voice. But for now, many in the AI industry see hardware as a way for companies like OpenAI to differentiate themselves. "There's this quote from Steve Jobs where he says, 'If you want to make great hardware, make software,'" Di Genova said. "I think we've quite literally reached the point where now we're on the backswing of that pendulum. If you want to make great software, make hardware, because basically basically there's no moat anymore."