OpenAI targets AirPods with AI earbuds as Sam Altman and Jony Ive push into hardware

Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s First AI Gadget May Try to Kill AirPods

Reports from a supply chain leaker, Smart Pikachu, who has previously shared information on rumored unreleased Apple products, indicate that an anticipated AI gadget from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple head of design, Jony Ive, has AirPods in its crosshairs. The device, codenamed "Sweetpea," apparently, is what the leaker is describing as a "special audio product" that resembles an earpiece. Two pill-shaped gadgets, which are housed in an egg-shaped case when not in use, can be situated behind the ear. From there, I assume they can do stuff like play audio or place calls. I say "assume" here because we don't yet know what Altman and Ive's gadget really does yet. If there was one thing I'd bet all the AirPods in the world on, it's that Sweetpea centers on an AI voice assistant powered by ChatGPT. Using microphones and a voice assistant, these not-earbuds could make calls, play audio, or maybe even control stuff on your phone. If that sounds a lot like what you can already do with wireless earbuds as they exist right now, well... that's because it is. According to Smart Pikachu: "[the] main processor target is 2nm smart phone style chip (exynos most favored). a custom chip also been developed to allowing the device to "replace iphone actions by commanding Siri." Good idea or not, Smart Pikachu says that Sweetpea could be the first AI gadget we see from Altman and Ive's collaboration, with a projected release around September. After Sweetpea, we could see even wackier hardware that may include a "home-style device," as the leaker puts it, orâ€"and I'm not making this upâ€"a pen? I guess, of the products potentially in the pipeline for Altman and Ive, Sweetpea sounds the most useful, but if I'm being honest, these little earpieces are going to have to do more than just dupe AirPods' best features to make an impact. The fact of the matter is that people like wireless earbudsâ€"not only is the form factor familiar, proven, and cheap to make, but they also allow for stuff like active noise cancellation (ANC), which is a must-have if you live in a crowded city like me or if you ever fly on an airplane. Clearly, there's something in Sweetpea that we're not seeing yet, though. If Smart Pikachu's leaks are legit, the device using a 2nm chip says a lotâ€"mainly that it could be used as a standalone gadget that's not necessarily tethered to a phone. Whether anyone wants that type of hardware is another question entirely. Just like wireless earbuds, people also like their phones, and if you want to see how the whole unseating the phone with AI train is chugging along, I'd point you to the heaping wreck that is Humane and its failed Ai Pin. Either way, it looks like we'll have more premium AI gadgets to ogle soon enoughâ€"that is, if the tandem ever manages to get its computersâ€"ya knowâ€"computing.

OpenAI could launch earbuds with an 'unseen before' design later this year

This leak claims the earbuds are expected to be ready for launch this September. OpenAI is a well-known name in the AI space, offering products like ChatGPT, Sora, Codex, and so on. While the company specializes in software, an upcoming project could see it enter the hardware market. And this project aims to compete directly with one of Apple's most popular devices. According to tipster Smart Pikachu on X (formerly Twitter), OpenAI is working on an audio product to "replace" Apple's AirPods. Codenamed "Sweetpea," these earbuds are said to feature a "unique, unseen before" design, with the main device "to be metal and resembling [the] shape of [an] eggstone." Inside that eggstone are two pill-shaped devices that will rest behind your ear, as seen in the picture below. The tipster goes on to claim that OpenAI is aiming to give the earbuds a "2nm smartphone-style chip (Exynos most favored)." It's also mentioned that a custom chip has been developed to "replace iPhone actions by commanding Siri." The leaker adds that the bill of materials (BOM) could be very high, possibly matching the BOM of a smartphone. So it seems that these earbuds won't be cheap. Finally, the tipster says that OpenAI is targeting a September release date, with a "volume projection [of] 40-50mm first year." These earbuds are reportedly one of the five hardware products OpenAI is developing. According to the leak, the company has tasked Foxconn, an electronics contract manufacturer, with getting those five devices prepared by Q4 2028. The earbuds are said to be at the front of the line due to the priority of Jony Ive's team. It's unknown what these other devices are, but the leak suggests that "a home style device and pen are still considered."

AirPods killer? OpenAI's massive hardware leak targets Apple's earbuds

A recent X leak hints that OpenAI may be working on AI-powered earbuds OpenAI isn't just focused on strengthening its chatbot -- it's also setting its sights on the physical product space. More specifically, AI-powered devices designed to challenge the tools we already rely on from rival tech companies. The company signaled those ambitions last year with its acquisition of io Products, Inc., a device startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, in a deal reportedly worth around $6.5 billion. The move made one thing clear: OpenAI wants to build "physical AI," not just software. Since then, tech watchers have been waiting to see what the OpenAI-io partnership would produce first. While the company hasn't officially revealed its debut device, a recent leak may have offered an early glimpse at what OpenAI has in the works. Consumer electronics blogger @zhihuipikachu shared a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter) outlining what's said to be an upcoming AI-powered audio device codenamed "Sweetpea." According to the leak, the device is being positioned as a legitimate competitor to Apple's AirPods. Sweetpea appears to be a high-priority product for the ChatGPT-io partnership, with early details emerging around its design and capabilities. The leak describes a "unique, never-before-seen" metal design reminiscent of an eggstone, a 2nm smartphone-class chip powering the device and a custom processor designed to let Sweetpea "replace iPhone actions by commanding Siri." Taken together, those details suggest Sweetpea is intended to be more than just another pair of wireless earbuds. The post also claims the device could arrive as early as September, with projected first-year production volumes of 40-50 million units. Beyond Sweetpea, the leak makes another bold assertion: Foxconn has reportedly been tasked with producing five prototype devices ahead of a planned fourth-quarter 2028 launch. These prototypes are said to include not only the AI-powered audio hardware, but also a pen and a home-style device that are currently under consideration. Based on the quotes provided by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his partner Ive, it's clear that they want to push the world of AI forward through the creation of physical tools that fulfill their mission. In a joint statement given in a letter posted on the day of the tech alliance's announcement, Altman and Ive noted that they've "gathered together the best hardware and software engineers, the best technologists, physicists, scientists, researchers and experts in product development and manufacturing" to create their AI devices. The letter went on to state how their "new team, focused on developing products that inspire, empower and enable, will now merge with OpenAI to work more intimately with the research, engineering and product teams in San Francisco." We're going to be waiting a while to see OpenAI, io, and Foxconn's work on these devices result in finished products. At least we've gotten early word on their proposed rival to Apple's AirPods and the two other AI devices it's rumored to be working on. The idea of Sweetpea offering iPhone-like functionality through a custom chip -- while still issuing commands to Siri -- is genuinely exciting. Could OpenAI really deliver a pair of earbuds capable of rivaling, or even replacing, Apple's go-to audio companion? We'll be watching closely and will share updates as more details emerge.

Is Sam Altman Preparing to Release an AirPod Killer?

Technology leaker Smart Pikachu has received intel that a new AI gadget is coming from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in collaboration with former Apple head of design Jony Ive. The report claims that the device will operate similarly to AirPods, but with increased function. The entity has previously leaked information about rumored Apple products, though the claims have yet to be confirmed. In May, OpenAI announced it would buy Ive's AI device startup io in a nearly $6.5 billion deal. According to Altman, their mission is to figure out "how to create a family of devices that would let people use AI to create all sorts of wonderful things." "AI is an incredible technology, but great tools require work at the intersection of technology, design, and understanding people and the world," Altman said, according to NPR. The rumor report said the gadget is referred to internally as "Sweetpea," and is a "special audio product to replace Airpod." The earpieces, or "pills," are reportedly visually "unique, unseen before," and are to fit inside of an metal egg-shaped device. According to the site, the device will cost around as much as a smartphone to build, but the functionality will be even stronger. James Pero, a reporter at Gizmodo, wrote that Sweetpea likely "centers on an AI voice assistant powered by ChatGPT," and that in "using microphones and a voice assistant, these not-earbuds could make calls, play audio, or maybe even control stuff on your phone." The post says the main processor is expected to be a 2-nanometer smartphone-class chip that will operate alongside a customized chip designed to execute iPhone actions through Siri commands.

OpenAI Wants to Replace Your AirPods With ChatGPT-Powered Earbuds

Besides the AI earbuds, OpenAI is also planning to release an AI pen. OpenAI is reportedly working on a new AI-powered device and preparing to enter the audio wearable market with ChatGPT integration. A new leak suggests that OpenAI is developing a new AirPods-style product codenamed "Sweetpea" and that it will have a "unique, unseen before" hardware design. It may look like a metal "eggstone" featuring pill-shaped modules. Shared by tipster @zhihuipikachu on X, the device is said to be a special audio product from OpenAI. It may release around September of this year and the volume projection is said to be 40 to 50 millions in the first year. It may have two detachable modules that sit behind the ear. Foxconn has been told by OpenAI to prepare capacity for up to 5 OpenAI devices by Q4 of 2028. However, this "Sweetpea" audio device has been prioritized for an early release by Jony Ive's team. It's expected that OpenAI's earbud device may come with a phone-class 2nm chip, likely packing Samsung's Exynos SoC. In addition, a custom chip has been developed to allow the earbuds to perform AI actions on the iPhone by commanding Siri. Note that earlier reporting said that OpenAI is exploring a pen-shaped device, which is internally dubbed "Gumdrop". It's said that the AI pen will be able to capture handwriting and voice interaction. Of these 5 devices, an AI pen, an AirPods-style audio device, and a pocked-sized AI device are known. It's unclear what other devices are and whether they will be released by OpenAI or not. In any case, OpenAI has not publicly confirmed any of the leaked information so take these with a grain of salt.

OpenAI may debut AirPods rival with unique design in 2026

High costs and a custom chip suggest a premium price positioning. OpenAI could launch its first consumer audio hardware later this year, marking a significant shift beyond software, if a new leak is accurate. According to tipster Smart Pikachu, who shared details on X, the company is working on wireless earbuds aimed at competing with Apple AirPods. This could be one of the many products it is working on, and signals the company's intent to enter the premium wearables segment and build deeper, AI-driven user interactions beyond smartphones. Smart Pikachu says the earbuds are codenamed 'Sweetpea' and are designed around a metal main unit described as an 'eggstone.' Inside this enclosure are two pill-shaped modules that reportedly sit behind the ear rather than inside the ear canal, a departure from most true wireless earbuds on the market. The tipster also claims OpenAI is planning to use a '2nm smartphone-style chip,' with Samsung's Exynos platform said to be the preferred option. A custom chip is reportedly being developed to enable voice-based actions that could reduce reliance on phone-based assistants such as Siri. Also Read: Meta plans to lay off hundreds of employees in Reality Labs division: Report According to the leak, the bill of materials for the earbuds could be extremely high, potentially comparable to that of a smartphone. If true, this strongly suggests premium pricing, likely placing the product well above mass-market earbuds. The same source claims OpenAI is targeting a September release and a first-year production volume of 40 to 50 million units, an ambitious figure for a first-generation hardware product. The earbuds are reportedly one of five hardware products under development at OpenAI. The leak claims Foxconn has been tasked with preparing all five devices for production by Q4 2028. Among them, the earbuds are said to be prioritised due to involvement from Jony Ive's design team. Other products mentioned include a home-focused device and a pen-like accessory, though no further details are available. If accurate, this would be OpenAI's clearest move yet into consumer hardware with AI as a big play. For users, where premium earbuds are increasingly popular, this could introduce a new category of AI-first wearables that compete not just on sound quality, but on how naturally users can interact with services such as ChatGPT on the go. But there are no regulatory filings, certification listings, or supply-chain confirmations to support the claims so far. Details such as a 2nm chip inside earbuds, smartphone-level BOM costs, and high shipment targets are unusually aggressive and may change, or may not materialise at all. As with most early-stage leaks, the final product, if it launches, could look very different. Those interested in next-generation earbuds may want to wait for more concrete evidence. If OpenAI is indeed planning a September launch, trademark filings, component leaks, or certification approvals should surface in the coming months. Until then, this remains an intriguing but unverified look at how OpenAI might extend its AI ambitions into everyday consumer hardware. Keep reading Digit.in to stay updated with such news.