28 Sources
[1]
OpenAI's expensive smart speaker will use moving parts to seem "more alive
OpenAI's upcoming smart speaker will probably cost over $300, "people familiar with the matter" have told Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The generative AI company has "discussed" charging up to $400, Bloomberg, which has been reporting on the yet-to-be-announced smart speaker since July, said today. The publication said that OpenAI is viewing the smart speaker as a smartphone replacement. OpenAI has declined to comment on its product roadmap. Per Bloomberg, the speaker will follow in the steps of other smart speakers lately in pushing an AI-first focus aimed at helping people complete tasks, compared to simpler smart speaker tasks, like checking the weather. The battery-powered gadget will reportedly "work similarly" to the ChatGPT voice mode on mobile apps "but with more advanced models for humanlike interactivity," Bloomberg said. The device will be able to control smart home devices too, the publication previously reported. OpenAI's speaker will "be shaped like a doughnut that's roughly the size of a hockey puck," Bloomberg said today, citing its anonymous sources. Additionally, the device will reportedly have parts that will move independently when the speaker is responding to user prompts. Like other speakers, it will also reportedly have lights to indicate when the device is listening. The moving parts and lights aim to make the device seem "more alive than today's stationary speaker products," the report said. Bloomberg pointed to "high-quality metal" and other premium materials for the speaker, which OpenAI reportedly designed with LoveFrom, a studio owned by famous former Apple designer Jony Ive. Apple is currently suing OpenAI, accusing the AI company of stealing trade secrets for its hardware development. Bloomberg's sources said that OpenAI launched an internal probe on the speaker following Apple's lawsuit and determined that the speaker doesn't use Apple IP. The speaker would join OpenAI's only other gadget so far, the $230 Codex Micro mini keyboard. OpenAI is reportedly looking into making other AI-powered devices in the future. In the meantime, the AI firm is setting itself up for quite the challenge should it release a speaker within the reported price range. Such a device would be significantly more expensive than most smart speakers. For comparison, Amazon's most expensive smart speakers with Alexa+, Amazon's subscription-based AI chatbot, either have a display, such as the 15.6-inch $300 Echo Show 15, or virtual surround sound, like the $220 Echo Studio. Per Bloomberg, the OpenAI speaker's main appeal is ChatGPT capabilities. Today, ChatGPT has significantly more users than Alexa+, but those users are largely accustomed to accessing the chatbot on devices they already own. With the rumored speaker, OpenAI would be betting on people's willingness to pay substantial money for dedicated hardware to access chatbot features, the most advanced of which also require a subscription fee. Without advanced hardware, which seems like it would be hard to fit in a device the size reported by Bloomberg, a $300 to $400 smart speaker is a hard sell. Still, with OpenAI losing billions of dollars a year, it's understandable that it's seeking additional revenue sources and to drive engagement. It's somewhat ironic that OpenAI has seemingly chosen the smart speaker industry, which has faced severe profitability obstacles, to try to buoy its finances. Bloomberg claimed today that OpenAI will reveal its speaker this year and release it in 2027, assuming Apple's lawsuit doesn't disrupt those plans.
[2]
OpenAI's new AI smart speaker will reportedly sell for between $300 and $400
More details continue to trickle out about OpenAI's mysterious new hardware device -- described previously as an AI-fueled smart speaker that will be the "physical manifestation" of ChatGPT. Bloomberg now reports that the device will be "donut-shaped," designed thusly to allow users to carry it around their home and place it in different locations, like a bedside table or a kitchen counter. It will be constructed from "high-quality metal," have a "premium look," and (in a detail that mystifies) will have distinct "moving parts," sources told Bloomberg. It also could be slightly more expensive than your average smart speaker, perhaps $300 to $400 per unit, according to this report. For comparison, most of Amazon's smart home speakers range in price from $40 on the low end to $240 on the high end. So, to sum up: an expensive talking AI donut that has ... moving parts? OpenAI releasing a smart home device has a certain logic to it, in that it would further integrate ChatGPT into users' lives. However, historically speaking, smart speakers have not always been profitable and may prove a difficult market to break into. The potentially high price point also might not help. The device, which is being developed in partnership with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by famous former Apple developer Jony Ive, will likely be released at some point in 2027, Bloomberg writes. The company's attempt to enter the hardware market has not gone off without a hitch. OpenAI is being sued by the current king of hardware, Apple, which has accused the AI lab of stealing trade secrets. OpenAI has denied wrongdoing.
[3]
OpenAI's new AI smart speaker will reportedly sell for between $300-$400
More details continue to trickle out about OpenAI's mysterious new hardware device -- described previously as an AI-fueled smart speaker that will be the "physical manifestation" of ChatGPT. Bloomberg now reports that the device will be "donut-shaped," designed thusly to allow users to carry it around their home and place it in different locations, like a bedside table or a kitchen counter. It will be constructed from "high-quality metal," have a "premium look," and (in a detail that mystifies) will have distinct "moving parts," sources told Bloomberg. It also could be slightly more expensive than your average smart speaker, perhaps $300 to $400 per unit, according to this report. For comparison, most of Amazon's smart home speakers range in price from $40 on the low end to $240 on the high end. So, to sum up: an expensive talking AI donut that has ... moving parts? OpenAI releasing a smart home device has a certain logic to it, in that it would further integrate ChatGPT into users' lives. However, historically speaking, smart speakers have not always been profitable and may prove a difficult market to break into. The potentially high price point also might not help. The device, which is being developed in partnership with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by famous former Apple developer Jony Ive, will likely be released at some point in 2027, Bloomberg writes. The company's attempt to enter the hardware market has not gone off without a hitch. OpenAI is being sued by the current king of hardware, Apple, which has accused the AI lab of stealing trade secrets. OpenAI has denied wrongdoing.
[4]
Details Leak on OpenAI's Doughnut-Shaped Speaker - CNET
OpenAI plans to release an AI smart speaker in 2027, according to a Bloomberg report on Thursday. It'll reportedly be palm-size and doughnut-shaped and have a wireless design that will let people carry it around. The report, which cited unnamed people familiar with the project, also indicates that the small speaker will cost $300 to $400, a steep price compared with around $100 to $200 for most smart speakers (except for high-end Bose and Sonos options). The device would work like ChatGPT on your phone, but it would use more advanced models that can learn about the user and talk with them in tailored ways over time. A representative from OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The report also says the speaker will have parts that move to signal how it's interacting, something usually left to screen icons. It will have indicator lights plus a camera system and sensors to help it collect and process information about its environment. But OpenAI faces a potential legal roadblock to making the device available to consumers. Last month, Apple sued the artificial intelligence company, alleging it stole confidential product design and development information and asked manufacturers to copy Apple's metal finishing. The Bloomberg report says that the OpenAI speaker was designed with help from LoveFrom studio, launched by former Apple designer Jony Ive. Last year, OpenAI acquired a separate Ive-founded startup, IO, focused on devices. Apple is similarly rumored to be working on AI-powered devices for the home. A first wave could arrive this fall, with smart display devices that take advantage of its new Siri AI capabilities. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) I've tested several smart speakers in the past year that come with the latest AI features, similar to those this report mentions. That includes Echo and Echo Show displays with Alexa Plus, which can adapt to your habits, order food for you and carry on conversations. I've also tried Google's latest Home speaker, a device made with Gemini for Home in mind; it can brainstorm with you and answer questions about what compatible security cameras have seen outside. It's unclear whether OpenAI's speaker would have such capabilities. The Bloomberg report describes the OpenAI device as being the size of a hockey puck, which would be unusual for a smart speaker and could prove a significant technology challenge, from sound quality to battery life and speed of response. Makers of AI devices also have to contend with concerns around privacy, which have been on the rise as technologies like smart glasses and Ring video doorbells become more commonplace.
[5]
Jony Ive's first OpenAI gadget is reportedly a hockey puck-sized smart speaker
The AI device OpenAI is developing with former Apple designer Jony Ive is "essentially a smart speaker without a display" that's battery-powered, doughnut-shaped and roughly the size of a hockey puck, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. The device, expected to launch in 2027 for a price over $300, reportedly "will have a unique look, complete with moving parts," including some that will move on their own to show when the device is responding or interacting with the user, along with lights, a camera system, and other sensors. Gurman's sources also say the "battery-powered" device is designed to be "easy to carry around the home with one hand,"similar to Amazon's now-discontinued Tap speaker. Gurman says it will "work similarly to the company's ChatGPT voice mode on smartphone apps, but with more advanced models for humanlike interactivity" but look and feel nothing like an Apple product -- despite their ongoing lawsuit. The speaker / pocket personal assistant could be the first in a "family of devices" OpenAI has planned, but we'll probably hear a lot more about all of them before it eventually arrives.
[6]
OpenAI's Rumored AI Smart Speaker Could Cost Up to $400
We now have more details about the AI hardware OpenAI is building in collaboration with former Apple design head Jony Ive. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the device will be a screenless, doughnut-shaped speaker that will function like ChatGPT's voice mode and cost as much as a midrange Android phone. It's the first of the family of AI devices that OpenAI plans to launch in the near future. The company is expected to pitch the speaker as an AI-first computer that you can carry around and use throughout the day to "get things done," sources familiar with the development tell Gurman. The device will feature a camera system, sensors, a battery, speaker grills, microphones, and lights. The camera system and sensors will scan the surroundings to feed the AI with visual information, while the lights and some other moving components on the device will indicate when the speaker is actively interacting. By making it move, OpenAI wants to make the speaker feel more alive, the report adds. Overall, the speaker will be the size of a hockey puck, and users can place it on their hands or on a flat surface like a kitchen counter. As with Ive's Apple devices, the OpenAI speaker will deliver a premium feel and use high-quality metal, Gurman says. It's expected to launch in 2027 and cost nearly $300 to $400, Gurman says. The design is likely to draw Apple's attention. The iPhone maker filed a lawsuit last month that accuses OpenAI of stealing its trade secrets through former Apple employees who now work for the ChatGPT maker. Responding to the claims, OpenAI said this week that its employees hadn't stolen any confidential information and that Apple was being "careless, aggressive, and oddly personal" with the lawsuit. Disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
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OpenAI's ring-shaped smart speaker will reportedly cost between $300 and $400 - Engadget
It would be an ambitiously high price for the AI-powered hardware pivot. We typically expect Mark Gurman at Bloomberg to have the latest tips on Apple tech, but today he's sharing info about OpenAI's planned move into hardware. After reporting a wave of details last month about the smart speaker in development at the AI company, today he's got additional insights about the device. Sources told Gurman that the product would have a ring-shaped design about the size of a hockey puck. The form factor is meant to be battery-powered and portable, so a user could easily carry it around with them. It reportedly has components that will be able to move on their own, which seem intended to make the product more lifelike and engaging. Although this inaugural piece of hardware does not appear to be equipped with a screen, it will have a camera system and sensors to monitor the environment. As one might expect after OpenAI shelled out $6.5 billion for Jony Ive-helmed startup io to spark this hardware pivot, the price point reportedly being discussed is high. Sources told Gurman that the OpenAI device might retail for $300 to $400. That's notably more than most other smart speakers on the market, even high-end ones. We already foresaw this hardware experiment potentially becoming an expensive side quest that ultimately fails if consumers aren't willing to pay whatever price the company does eventually set. Having a chance to gauge buyers' reactions to this rumored price before the anticipated launch in 2027 could see OpenAI attempt to revise its cost plans.
[8]
OpenAI's mysterious ChatGPT device is a $300+ doughnut-shaped smart speaker with moving parts
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Why it matters: The mysterious AI device being created by OpenAI and former Apple designer Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio has been revealed - and it sounds a bit weird. According to a new report, it will be a hockey-puck-sized smart speaker shaped like a doughnut. It will also have "moving parts that help give it personality" and cost between $300 and $400. News of the device, whose journey began when OpenAI announced it was acquiring Ive's AI hardware startup io for $6.5 billion last year, comes from Bloomberg. The publication writes that it will work like an everyday smart speaker, but it will actually be the "physical manifestation" of ChatGPT. Because of the speaker's doughnut-like design and the fact it's battery-powered, users will be able to carry it around the home and place it in different locations with ease. It's said to be constructed from high-quality metal and have a premium look, which is to be expected for a smart speaker that costs up to $400. Those strange-sounding moving parts will apparently move to show when the speaker is responding - a pair of fake lips that flap when it speaks would certainly add personality. There will also be lights that illuminate when it's listening. It's also expected to feature cameras and other sensors so it can provide visual information to the AI. Another expected feature is the use of advanced AI models that allow the speaker to engage in free-flowing conversations with users and learn about them to tailor its responses. Bloomberg says the device will launch sometime in 2027. It was reported last November that OpenAI had completed the first working prototype. Sam Altman called the screenless device "simple, beautiful, and playful," while reports said its cameras and microphones would give it spatial awareness and allow it to respond contextually. Interestingly, Apple alleges in its trade secrets lawsuit that OpenAI misled one of Cupertino's manufacturing partners into performing its confidential metal-finishing technique by falsely suggesting Apple had approved it. OpenAI, for its part, said it is "building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple." OpenAI plans to make more than just expensive smart speakers. There were reports of AI earbuds codenamed Sweetpea in January, though court filings later said the Ive-designed device is not wearable or in-ear. The company has since launched the $230 Codex Micro, a miniature keypad designed to control its Codex coding agent. Bloomberg says the speaker is intended to be the first in a family of devices, with OpenAI hoping to eventually build hardware capable of replacing today's smartphones.
[9]
OpenAI's first device is a $300 doughnut-shaped speaker
OpenAI's first gadget finally has a shape, a price and a release window. It is a doughnut-shaped speaker the size of a hockey puck, and it doubles as the company's answer to Apple. The details come from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who reported on Wednesday. OpenAI's first device is a smart speaker without a screen. It is shaped like a doughnut, roughly the size of a hockey puck. It runs on a battery, small enough to carry around the home in one hand. OpenAI has discussed a price of $300 to $400, and plans a 2027 release. A speaker that moves The design is the point. The circular device will have moving parts that shift on their own. They show when it is listening or responding, and make it feel more alive than a stationary speaker. It carries speaker grills, microphones, lights, a camera, and other sensors that feed what it sees back into the AI. It works like ChatGPT's voice mode, but with more advanced models and a memory. It learns about a user over time. That lets it tailor conversations and, OpenAI hopes, act more like a person than a gadget. Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio designed it, the team behind the io startup OpenAI bought for $6.5bn last year. The Apple problem The gadget lands in the middle of a fight. Apple is suing OpenAI, alleging it stole trade secrets tied to hardware. OpenAI denies it, and late on Wednesday asked a judge to throw the case out. "OpenAI is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple," the filing said. Gurman's sources push the same line. The device, they say, looks and acts "nothing like an Apple product". OpenAI also found no evidence it uses Apple's secrets. Apple's suit points to a metal-finishing technique for the device's premium metal shell. Its request this week for an injunction, if granted, could still delay the launch. OpenAI has not been shy about staffing up for this fight. It built a hardware group in part by hiring away Apple talent, including a former Vision Pro leader. The lawsuit reads, in that light, as much about people and process as about any single design. The harder question is whether anyone buys it The speaker is a first step. OpenAI has said it is building a whole family of devices. It eased in with a speaker rather than the always-on glasses that raise privacy alarms. Bloomberg first detailed the screenless companion last month. This is the version with a price. That price is the risk. At $300 to $400 it costs far more than most smart speakers. Amazon and Google dominate that category, and the devices have rarely turned a profit. TechCrunch called it "an expensive talking AI donut" with moving parts. Whether it is a computer people carry from room to room, or a costly curiosity, is the question 2027 will settle.
[10]
OpenAI's Rumored Smart Speaker Sounds More Like a... Squirming AI Robot?
OpenAI's big hardware venture alongside legendary ex-Apple designer Jony Ive is reportedly shaping up to be a smart home speaker powered by AI. But unlike your average agentic chatbot-enabled Amazon Echo Dot or Google Home Speaker, OpenAI's puck is built for squirming. The latest report from Bloomberg offers us our most complete idea of what to expect from OpenAI's nascent hardware, expected to launch in 2027. According to anonymous sources, the smart speaker will be shaped like a donut and about the size of a hockey puck. Bloomberg even suggests that the device costs around $300 or $400, which would be significantly more than most other smart home speakers. For that price, the device will include "parts that move on their own" when it's interacting with the user. The point of such wriggling is meant to make it feel "alive." We'll just have to see for ourselves whether an anthropomorphized robot pet puck is endearing or creepy. More than a simple smart home hub, the OpenAI puck is supposed to act like a "companion" that can be operated either handheld or on a desk. The company behind ChatGPT may try to emphasize how you could take it with you in your backpack to work, if you really can't spend five minutes without your AI friend hanging about. There's reportedly no screen, either. That means you'll have no choice but to talk to your AI and pray it gets the answers you need. It's said to include some LED lights to let you know when it's listening, but it will also include sensors that could include a camera to perceive its surroundings. "The big takeaway here is that it looks, feels and acts nothing like an Apple product or anything the company is currently planning," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on X. As much as we can pretend that this supposed wriggling AI puck is wholly unique, it's not far outside the realms of what other companies have been working on -- including Apple. Last year, Apple's Machine Learning Research Division shared its work on an AI-based lamp, the kind that's supposed to remind you of Pixar's beloved Luxo Jr. mascot. The "ELEGNT" lamp could follow your movements, pretend to read with you, and act a little spontaneous as it performed its tasks. For instance, instead of simply telling you the weather on command, it would pretend to look outside (likely giving the AI chatbot a chance to formulate its response) and then give you the answer. And yes, that's as cute as it sounds. But it's not the kind of device that would have the same functionality that a big breakout hardware product from OpenAI requires. OpenAI reportedly has plans for several more AI-focused products down the line, including a potential smartphone, and we have to see if they can get any more or less weird than the moving puck. Apple reportedly has plans for new AI Siri-enabled HomePods. I know we shouldn't knock something before seeing it, but OpenAI's first hardware device doesn't sound all that appealing or genre-defining as initially suggested when Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman first teamed up. There's also the awkwardness surrounding an ongoing lawsuit between Apple and the makers of ChatGPT over allegations the AI lab -- buoyed by loads of ex-Apple staff -- effectively stole trade secrets. OpenAI responded to the suit, saying it was a "baseless" witch hunt designed to cover up Apple's initial failures at its own AI rollout. Looking beyond the corporate cock fight, the real question we should be asking is if we really want yet another AI gadget in our lives. If push came to shove, we'd take a Pixar lamp over a puck any day.
[11]
OpenAI's first AI smart speaker reportedly won't just talk, it'll move too
OpenAI reportedly plans to launch the AI-first device in 2027 as the first product in a broader lineup of AI-powered hardware. We first heard last month that OpenAI's debut hardware product could be a screenless smart speaker. Now, a new report from Bloomberg adds several fresh details about what the company is building, including its unusual design, premium price, and how it plans to stand out from today's smart speakers. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, OpenAI's first device will be a battery-powered smart speaker without a display. That alone makes it stand out from what competitors like Google, Apple, and Amazon offer. Instead of resembling existing smart speakers, the device is said to have a doughnut-shaped design that's roughly the size of a hockey puck. It's reportedly small enough to carry around the house with one hand. OpenAI reportedly wants the device to feel more like an AI companion than a traditional smart speaker. To achieve that, the device is also said to include moving parts that animate when it interacts with users. The report also claims the device will include speaker grills, microphones, and lights that indicate when it's actively listening. A camera system and additional sensors are also reportedly planned, allowing the AI to better understand its surroundings and provide more context-aware responses. Like ChatGPT's existing Voice Mode, the speaker is expected to let users have natural conversations. OpenAI plans to use more advanced AI models that can learn about users over time to make conversations feel more personalized. The report also states that the hardware is being designed in collaboration with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio. The company is said to be aiming for a premium look with high-quality metal materials and a premium price between $300 and $400, putting it above most smart speakers but below the cost of a flagship smartphone. Moreover, the report claims that OpenAI is targeting a 2027 launch for the speaker, while also planning a family of AI devices that could one day replace smartphones. The new details arrive as OpenAI continues to fight a legal battle with Apple over alleged trade secret theft. Apple claims OpenAI borrowed confidential manufacturing techniques for an upcoming device, allegations that OpenAI has denied. Bloomberg reports that OpenAI believes its hardware is fundamentally different from anything Apple has built and that it continues to push ahead with development despite the lawsuit.
[12]
OpenAI's ChatGPT Speaker Will Be Hockey Puck-Sized and Cost Over $300
OpenAI's upcoming AI device is a hockey-puck-sized, doughnut-shaped smart speaker with no display, reports Bloomberg. The product is meant to be easy to carry around with one hand, and it will have "moving parts that help give it personality," along with a price tag around $300 to $400. Bloomberg describes it as an AI-centric device that will stand out from current smart speakers. There are speaker grilles and microphones for voice-based chats with ChatGPT, and the AI model used will have human-like responses and will learn more about the user over time. Moving components will help show when the speaker is responding, and lights will show that it is listening. A camera system and sensors will feed the product information about the user's environment. It is battery-powered so it can be moved from room to room, and it will reportedly use a premium metal material. In its theft of trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, Apple claimed the company misled an Apple supplier into developing a metal finishing technique similar to what Apple uses. Former Apple design chief Jony Ive is designing the device for OpenAI. OpenAI acquired Ive's io device startup last year, adding multiple former Apple design team members to its hardware teams. Bloomberg says the portable speaker "is not something Apple has come close to launching," which supports OpenAI's claim that it has no interest in Apple's trade secrets. OpenAI said today that it is "building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple." Apple maintains OpenAI has developed its hardware using information sourced from Apple. Apple is working on a home hub that's supposed to come out as soon as this year, but it has a display and square form factor. Apple also has the HomePod mini speaker, but it is corded and not easily moved. Apple is also developing a tabletop robot that may share more similarities with OpenAI's device. It's said to have a display and a motorized arm for movement, but the robot isn't going to launch until 2027 at the earliest. OpenAI has not stopped development on its new hardware product, and hopes to introduce it later this year ahead of a 2027 launch.
[13]
I asked Gemini and ChatGPT to build OpenAI's mythical AI hardware -- the results are shockingly good but still don't make me want this $300-plus device
It's a smart donut. That's the only conclusion I can draw about OpenAI's first, groundbreaking piece of AI hardware after reading Bloomberg's revealing but unconfirmed report. Here's the TLDR summary of these rumors: This donut-shaped, hockey puck-sized AI companion, designed with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio, can sit on a table, be carried (or maybe worn). It'll be festooned with sensors, cameras, microphones, and speakers. Meanwhile, it'll be a vessel to bring ChatGPT closer to you and your life. It'll even shape-shift a bit to indicate a response (can a donut shrug?). OpenAI might, Bloomberg claims, price it between $300 and $400 (or around £220-£300 / AU$425-AU$570). I know. That's almost instantly a hard no for an AI companion that has no defined purpose besides offering always-with-you AI. Even the woebegone Rabbit R1, which also features a camera, speakers, some sensors, and even a rotating camera, costs just $199 (or about £150 / AU$280). After reading through this, I still wasn't feeling it. Why do we need this gadget? What problem does it solve? Really, why do we need any AI on or near our bodies? If this product arrived three years ago, would people, including me, feel differently? After all, in 2023, we were all excited about the potential of generative AI. These days, it's fair to say half of us hate it or at least deeply distrust it and hate what it's doing to our resources (water and energy) and landscapes (data centers). On the other hand, maybe I was judging OpenAI's upcoming device too harshly, especially without having even seen it. That sparked an idea. Bloomberg's report included enough detail to create an image in my mind's eye, and I wondered if the leading AI platforms, Gemini and, yes, ChatGPT, could use a prompt to generate simulacra of the devices, in situ. Gemini and ChatGPT take a run at it I started with this prompt: "I need an image of a consumer electronics gadget that is shaped like a donut and the size of a hockey puck. It should include tiny microphone holes and grills for a pair of speakers. It should have moving parts, maybe pieces that shift against each other without massively deforming the donut shape. Let's make a pair of them in white and gray on a table. Let's also include an image of someone wearing one like a pendant." And in full disclosure, after getting my first couple of images, I added this prompt because I realized I left out a pair of key features: "Without changing the design, can you add a camera and a couple of small black sensors? I want the image to otherwise remain unchanged." These AI image generation systems are now good enough that they can maintain consistency between image generations (which they did here), so I'll only show you the finished products from both platforms. Here's the final render from Gemini Pro: At a glance, they're kind of cute, looking like giant, digital Lifesaver candies. The speaker grills are kind of huge, but I like the subtle placement of the camera and sensors. I can infer the possibility of movement from the multi-part frames. Gemini is, I can see, a bit unsure if this is a wired or wireless device, but it has made at least one intriguing leap. It assumes, for instance, a connection to a phone-based platform called Aether (the gadgets may even be called "Aether"). In medieval times, according to Gemini, Aether was considered the fifth element. "It was believed to be the pure, heavenly material that filled the region of the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere," wrote Gemini. Yes, that feels a bit like the proliferation of AI. The fictional device does look as silly as a pendant as I expected, but overall, I'm more intrigued by this device than I was before seeing the Gemini render. Now let's take a look at the ChatGPT (Free) render: This is a simpler, even plainer device and might fit in a bit better with Jony Ive's previous design oeuvre. I like the low-key speaker grill design, and don't mind the smaller activity lights. I appreciate that ChatGPT helpfully includes a schematic that breaks down all the key features and even offers a look under the hood. It also manages to look a little less obtrusive as a pendant. Let's get real Obviously, this is all guesswork by Gemini and ChatGPT, and it's based on prompts built on rumors. Put another way, OpenAI's upcoming AI wearable could end up being significantly different than either of these generative images. Somehow, I don't think so. I have a feeling that we will see something small, round, lightweight, and very, very intelligent. The launch, when it happens, will be exciting and buzzworthy. Ive's voice will likely drive the brand narrative as the donut-shaped device floats in an all-white background before settling on a desk or, better yet, in the palm of someone's hand. That moment, though, won't change the trajectory of OpenAI's AI gadget. When it arrives, it will face an uphill battle to attract consumers who are already suspicious of AI's growing influence on the world. They're tired of AI slop, angry about resources and jobs, and the last thing many want is an AI companion reminding them daily about their frustration. I don't even know what to say about a donut... er... gadget that squirms in your hand. That sounds positively creepy. If there's any bright side to these rumors, it's that they probably put to bed the idea that OpenAI is allegedly stealing Apple product secrets. The iPhone maker would never build something like this. I could be wrong about OpenAI's chances in this space. This might be the first AI gadget to break through. I mean, look at those designs. Aren't they cool? Sure, they are, but they're not reality, and we all know that this gadget will soon face a very harsh reality. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.
[14]
OpenAI's AI smart speaker will reportedly be shaped 'like a doughnut'
OpenAI's screenless smart speaker will reportedly be shaped "like a doughnut" and carry a price tag in the ballpark of $300. Bloomberg revealed new details about OpenAI's upcoming hardware device on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. According to Bloomberg's report, OpenAI's AI-powered smart speaker will have a doughnut-like form factor and be comparable in size to a hockey puck, a design apparently intended to make it easily portable in one hand. This is in line with a previous report from The Wall Street Journal that users would be able to carry the device in their pocket. The speaker will reportedly have a metal design as well, giving it a "premium look." Last May, OpenAI announced that it had acquired iPhone designer Jony Ive's startup io, signalling that the AI company was moving into hardware. Now Bloomberg reports that OpenAI's smart speaker will "use upscale materials like high-quality metal," likely hoping to emulate the success of Apple's distinct product design. OpenAI has not officially announced its smart speaker yet, much less revealed a price tag. However, Bloomberg's sources state that the company is looking at placing it around the $300 to $400 mark. A previous Bloomberg report last month revealed that OpenAI's smart speaker will have moving mechanical parts which respond to users, aimed at making the device seem more lifelike and personable. It will also actively monitor users and learn about them, using microphones, a camera system, and other sensors, as well as through methods such as accessing their emails. A light will indicate when the device is listening to its environment. Data gathered by the speaker will then be fed to its AI algorithm, ostensibly so that it can give users more personalised service and offer assistance without prompting. Bloomberg reports that the smart speaker will essentially operate as a more advanced version of voice mode in OpenAI's ChatGPT app. Last year, the Journal reported that OpenAI hopes to ship 100 million of these devices, with the aim of making them as ubiquitous as smartphones. Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
[15]
OpenAI's first gadget sounds like a tiny robot for your home
For months, reports have suggested that OpenAI's first hardware product would be a screen-free smart speaker designed to act more like an AI companion. We already knew it could understand its surroundings, be carried around the home, and proactively help users. A new Bloomberg report now gives us a clearer picture of what the device may actually look like. As per the report, OpenAI's first gadget will be shaped like a doughnut and measure about the same size as a hockey puck. You will be able to carry it between rooms or leave it nearby on whatever surface is convenient. The device is expected to be on the expensive side, as the company has pondered pricing it around $300 to $400. A release is currently planned for 2027. A smart speaker you are meant to carry around Previous reports suggested that the device could control smart-home appliances, play media, answer questions, respond to messages, and use ChatGPT to help throughout the day. Voice will serve as the main interface, but the device will also have a camera and environmental sensors. Those additions could let the AI understand what is happening around it instead of relying entirely on spoken instructions. Apple is exploring a similar concept for future AirPods, which could use built-in cameras to understand the wearer's surroundings. OpenAI also expects it to become more familiar with its owner over time. Conversations could change according to a person's routines, preferences, and past interactions, allowing the assistant to offer help before someone reaches for a phone or types a prompt. Of course, the device will have access to advanced models for human-like conversations. OpenAI has already made considerable progress in this area through the recent introduction of ChatGPT Live. Its body could become part of the interface Microphones and speakers will handle conversations, while lights will show when the AI is listening or responding. Parts of the device will also move during interactions, giving it the presence of a small robot rather than a speaker sitting passively in the room. The comparison that comes to mind is WALL-E or R2-D2. Their movements and reactions make them feel alive, aware, and emotionally present. OpenAI seems to be pursuing a similar effect by giving ChatGPT a physical form and an expressive personality. I still have questions about how all of this will work in practice. A moving, doughnut-shaped AI companion could easily feel gimmicky if the design or motion is even slightly off. OpenAI is collaborating with legendary former Apple design chief Jony Ive and his LoveFrom studio on the device, which gives me some confidence that the final execution will feel polished rather than toy-like. Recommended Videos OpenAI president Greg Brockman has already confirmed that the company is building a family of devices, and this small companion could be the first to give ChatGPT a physical presence in users' homes.
[16]
OpenAI's First Device Is a $300-Plus Doughnut-Shaped Speaker: Report
Apple sued OpenAI in July over the alleged misappropriation of hardware trade secrets, and OpenAI moved to dismiss on Wednesday. OpenAI's first consumer device will be a screenless smart speaker shaped like a doughnut and roughly the size of a hockey puck, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the work who asked not to be identified because it is confidential. The battery-powered product is meant to be carried around the home in one hand and to work in different positions, whether held or set down on a surface. It will carry speaker grilles and microphones for conversation, lights to signal when it is listening, and a camera and sensors that feed information about the surroundings back to the AI. Parts of the circular casing will move on their own to show when the device is responding, an effort to make the object feel more alive than competing stationary smart speakers where Amazon and Google dominate the market. OpenAI is positioning it as a computer built around AI, and expects people to lean on it through the day, working much like ChatGPT's voice mode with more advanced models behind it. Pricing has been discussed at $300 to $400 per unit, above most smart speakers and below a standard iPhone. The hardware was designed with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio and will use upscale materials including high-quality metal. OpenAI bought Ive's device startup io for $6.4 billion in May 2025, and Decrypt reported in April that it is separately co-developing a smartphone chip with Qualcomm and MediaTek. Apple's lawsuit The news comes after Ive's former employer sued OpenAI in July in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California over the alleged misappropriation of hardware trade secrets, naming former engineer Chang Liu, former design executive Tang Yew Tan and io Products. Apple's complaint cites a metal finishing technique it says OpenAI asked a longtime Apple supplier to develop for an upcoming product, though whether that refers to the speaker, a different device or a scrapped concept is unclear, according to Bloomberg. OpenAI denies it. In a blog post on Monday, the company called the suit "careless, aggressive and oddly personal," said Apple had confused two employees with similar surnames, and published emails and texts it says undercut the claims. It filed a motion to dismiss late Wednesday. Apple has also asked for a preliminary injunction that could restrict OpenAI while the case proceeds, and which could complicate the launch. OpenAI has aimed to unveil the speaker this year and ship it in 2027, and is pressing ahead internally. A representative declined to comment on its product plans to Bloomberg. OpenAI's pitch for AI in the home has met with resistance online. Altman tweeted last week that a "cool use case" for its ChatGPT Work agent was connecting family calendars to generate a school-run podcast about one child's soccer game and another's birthday. Several critical replies drew more likes than the post itself, Fortune reported, objecting to software standing in for family conversation.
[17]
OpenAI's vision of the future is reportedly a donut-shaped smart speaker
We've got a new vision for the next great piece of AI hardware -- and it (allegedly) is going to look a lot like a donut. New details about OpenAI's first piece of hardware, designed by JonyIve's LoveFrom studio, are emerging. According to Bloomberg, the device will be smart speaker with no display. It will be shaped like a donut roughly the size of a hockey puck. It's battery-powered, small enough to carry around your home with one hand, and made of high-quality metal. It's loaded with speaker grills, microphones, lights, and a camera system that watches your environment and feeds what it sees into ChatGPT. According to the report, the speaker will work similarly to ChatGPT's voice mode on smartphone apps, just with more advanced models. It also has -- here's the new parlor trick -- parts that move on their own to signal when it's responding. It's meant to give the hardware "personality," sources say. The goal is to make it feel "more alive" than today's "stationary speakers."
[18]
Report: OpenAI's upcoming AI speaker will be shaped like a donut and cost around $300
More details have emerged from Bloomberg about OpenAI Group PBC's long-awaited hardware device, which was previously described as an artificial intelligence-enabled speaker that will be a "physical manifestation" of ChatGPT. In its latest report, Bloomberg described the upcoming device as having a "ring-like" shape and said the company is looking at pricing it at around $300. OpenAI has been working on the highly secretive device for several months already, and few people had any inkling about its plans until a few weeks ago. Back then, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman broke the news that the company was planning to launch a battery-powered portable speaker, similar to something like Amazon.com Inc.'s Echo. The report said it would be equipped with a camera and other sensors, plus "mechanical elements that can move on their own, creating a sense that it is alive and not just an object responding to commands." OpenAI is believed to be developing five different products in total, Gurman's new report today said, but it wants to begin with the speaker. The plan is to have a big reveal sometime this year ahead of its launch in early 2027. However, he added that this timeline could change, depending on how Apple Inc.'s lawsuit against OpenAI goes. The iPhone maker is suing OpenAI for allegedly using trade secrets that were stolen by its former employees who then joined the AI firm to help it develop its physical products. The reported price of OpenAI's speaker will put it in the higher-end of such products. The company seems to think it can get away with charging a higher price because of its brand name and the fact that the device will have a "premium look" due to its use of "upscale materials like high-quality metal," the report said. "The product -- essentially a smart speaker without a display -- will be shaped like a doughnut that's roughly the size of a hockey puck. (...) And the design should help it stand out from current smart speakers, a category dominated by Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google," Gurman wrote. According to the report, the speaker is being designed to "work in different positions," such as being held in someone's hand or by being placed on furniture around the house. The moving parts are an attempt to make the device feel "more alive," and it will be powered by OpenAI's most advanced models to support natural, humanlike voice interactions similar to ChatGPT's newly revamped voice mode. Earlier this week, OpenAI filed a motion to dismiss Apple's lawsuit against it. The company is arguing that Apple failed to identify specific trade secrets or plausibly allege that it engaged in improper conduct. It says that Apple's complaint frames "ordinary conduct" out of context and has been filed "without adequate investigation." It's believed that former Apple design chief Jony Ive is designing the device for OpenAI. The AI firm acquired Ive's io device startup last year, adding multiple former Apple design team members to its hardware teams. Gurman noted that the portable speaker "is not something Apple has come close to launching," which supports OpenAI's claim that it has no interest in Apple's trade secrets. OpenAI is therefore arguing that it is "building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple." Apple maintains OpenAI has developed its hardware using information sourced from Apple.
[19]
OpenAI's next hardware is a doughnut-shaped smart speaker with moving parts that wants to be your new phone
OpenAI's first consumer hardware turned out to be a $230 programmable keypad called the Codex Micro, a niche product built specifically for developers using its Codex coding agent. If that felt like an unexpected first move into hardware, the company's next reported device is a much bigger swing. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, OpenAI is developing a doughnut-shaped smart speaker priced between $300 and $400, with a 2027 launch target and ambitions to replace the smartphone as your primary AI interface. The hardware is being designed in partnership with LoveFrom, the studio founded by Jony Ive, the former Apple designer. The device will be built from high-quality metal with a premium finish, and will include lights, a camera system, and sensors. The detail that stands out most is the moving parts. These components will physically move when the speaker is responding to the user, with the stated goal of making the device feel more alive than conventional stationary speakers. On the software side, it is ChatGPT in a box. The speaker will work similarly to ChatGPT's voice mode on mobile but with more advanced models tuned for humanlike interactivity, becoming more personalised and proactive over time. Smart home control is also part of the package. OpenAI is framing it less as a smart speaker and more as a smartphone replacement. That being said, Amazon's most expensive Alexa speaker with a display tops out at $300, and that gets you a 15.6-inch screen. OpenAI could be asking more than that for a screenless doughnut. At the same time, the company is also dealing with a legal cloud hanging over it. Apple sued OpenAI in July, alleging that it stole trade secrets and encouraged manufacturers to copy Apple's metal-finishing techniques.
[20]
OpenAI's First AI Hardware Could Be a Doughnut-Shaped Smart Speaker: Report
It may get moving parts for more lifelike interactions, Gurman says OpenAI's long-rumoured AI hardware is finally expected to be on the horizon. While the rumour mill has hinted towards a launch in 2027, a new report has revealed fresh details about what is likely to be the first consumer device from the San Francisco-based AI company. The purported voice-first AI smart speaker is said to feature a compact doughnut-shaped design and integrated cameras and microphones. It will also reportedly feature moving mechanical elements for more lifelike interactions. OpenAI's AI Smart Speaker Details According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, OpenAI's first hardware product will be a compact smart speaker without a display. It is expected to be a battery-powered device that is shaped like a doughnut, roughly the size of a hockey puck. This could potentially make it easy to carry around the house with one hand. It has been reportedly designed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive. As such, the purported device could feature premium materials such as high-quality metal. OpenAI is reportedly discussing a price between $300 (roughly Rs. 26,000) and $400 (roughly Rs. 38,000). At this price point, it would be more expensive than smart speakers from competing brands like Amazon and Google, while rivalling Apple's higher-end HomePod models in terms of pricing. Unlike traditional smart speakers, the purported product will reportedly function as an AI-first computer, enabling users to complete everyday tasks through natural voice interactions. Gurman claims that the device could feature integrated speaker grilles, microphones, and cameras. It will also reportedly have additional sensors for environmental awareness to deliver more contextual responses. Lights on the AI hardware may provide indications of when it is listening, while moving mechanical components may visually communicate its responses for a more expressive, human-like personality. As per the report, OpenAI aims to push users to interact with the device using their voice, similar to ChatGPT's voice mode on the mobile app. However, it may be powered by more powerful AI models. Previously, OpenAI President Greg Brockman indicated that voice-first AI experiences will play a central role in OpenAI's long-term hardware strategy. The aims to to build devices that feel more conversational, context-aware, and seamlessly integrated into users' daily lives.
[21]
OpenAI's new device will be hockey puck-sized and cost over $300
The product -- essentially a smart speaker without a display -- will be shaped like a doughnut that's roughly the size of a hockey puck, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the work is confidential. The idea is to make the device easy to carry around the home with one hand. A highly anticipated new device from OpenAI will have a unique look, complete with moving parts that help give it personality, and likely cost more than $300, according to people familiar with the matter. The product -- essentially a smart speaker without a display -- will be shaped like a doughnut that's roughly the size of a hockey puck, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the work is confidential. The idea is to make the device easy to carry around the home with one hand. OpenAI is looking to break new ground with the product, which is slated for release in 2027. The device will be positioned as an AI-first computer that can help users get things done, the people said. And the design should help it stand out from current smart speakers, a category dominated by Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google. The new hardware will also give OpenAI a chance to show that it's not cribbing from Apple Inc.'s designs. The two companies are locked in a legal battle over whether the AI firm stole Apple's intellectual property, something OpenAI denies. A representative for San Francisco-based OpenAI declined to comment on its product plans. Though OpenAI eventually plans to offer a family of devices, the smart speaker is seen as a way to ease into the market. Other types of always-on AI gadgets, such as smart glasses, have raised concerns about privacy. OpenAI expects users to rely on the smart speaker throughout the day. It will work similarly to the company's ChatGPT voice mode on smartphone apps, but with more advanced models for humanlike interactivity. The device is designed to learn more about a user over time, letting it tailor conversations and act more like a real person. The circle-shaped device will include parts that move on their own, according to the people. That will help show when it's responding and interacting with the user. The goal is to make the object feel more alive than today's stationary speaker products. The product will have speaker grills and microphones for fielding commands and conversing with users. The battery-powered item will be designed to work in different positions -- in a user's hand, say, or placed on a nightstand or kitchen counter. OpenAI is also planning to include lights on the device to demonstrate when it's listening and make interactions feel more personal. A camera system and other sensors, meanwhile, will perceive the surrounding environment and feed visual information into the AI. Bloomberg News first reported some early details about the device last month. Over the longer run, OpenAI aims to build a device business and -- someday -- offer something that could replace today's smartphones. The speaker product was designed in collaboration with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio. Ive, who also co-founded a device startup that OpenAI acquired last year, made his name devising the look and feel of the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch. Like Ive's previous offerings, the new device will have a premium look and use upscale materials like high-quality metal. OpenAI has discussed pricing of $300 to $400 per unit, which would be more than most smart speakers but less than a standard iPhone. A metal design was cited in Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI. The iPhone maker claimed that OpenAI asked a long-running Apple supplier to develop a metal finishing technique for an upcoming product that's similar to what it offers. "OpenAI and its cohorts misled the partner to believe they had Apple's permission to have the partner carry out the confidential metal-finishing technique for OpenAI's benefit," according to the suit. OpenAI described the claim as "too vague and generalized." And it's unclear if the lawsuit is referring to the the doughnut-shaped device, another product or a scrapped concept. But the ring-shaped form factor -- or the idea of an easily totable smart speaker -- is not something Apple has come close to launching. Though it sells a HomePod speaker line, it doesn't have a battery-powered version and hasn't yet released an AI-centric home device. It is, however, working on innovative home products for the future. That includes a smart home hub with a display that attaches to a robotic limb. The approach will allow the device to move around in space, letting it face a person talking to it or show a different view during a FaceTime video chat. People with knowledge of the first OpenAI device say the company believes that the product doesn't use or violate any Apple trade secrets. OpenAI investigated the issue with an internal probe following Apple's lawsuit filing, they said. The company emphasized that point in a motion to dismiss Apple's lawsuit late Wednesday. "OpenAI is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple," the filing said. Still, Apple's request this week for an injunction against OpenAI -- if granted -- could complicate the new product's release. OpenAI has long sought to unveil the device this year and then make it available in 2027. Internally, OpenAI continues to push full speed ahead on its device, according to the people. OpenAI has sought to characterize Apple's accusations as "careless, aggressive and oddly personal." A lawyer for OpenAI wrote to a member of Apple's legal representatives to say the suit was "predicated on a misrepresentation of facts and allegations that are speculative at best." "You are attacking ordinary business practices," the lawyer, Patrick Curran of Quinn Emanuel, wrote to the iPhone maker. "You are complaining about situations that you have caused, including through your own procedures and decisions."
[22]
ChatGPT owner OpenAI is launching a doughnut-shaped speaker, similar to Amazon's Alexa and Google's Nest, that will work on your command: What is it?
OpenAI plans a unique doughnut-shaped smart speaker for a 2027 release. This AI-first device will feature moving parts and advanced humanlike interactivity. It aims to offer a premium look and feel, costing over $300. The company is collaborating with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio on the design. OpenAI believes its new product does not violate any Apple trade secrets. OpenAI is taking the AI hardware race a step further with a doughnut-shaped smart speaker that can move, interact and develop a lifelike personality, setting up a showdown with Amazon and Google, Bloomberg reported. The screenless device, expected to launch in 2027, will be roughly the size of a hockey puck and designed to be carried around the home with one hand. OpenAI is positioning it as an AI-first computer that can help users complete tasks through voice commands. Designed to be an AI companionThe smart speaker is expected to become the first in a broader family of AI devices that OpenAI plans to introduce. Unlike smart glasses, which have raised privacy concerns, the speaker is intended to serve as an always-on AI companion that users can interact with throughout the day. It will build on ChatGPT's voice mode with more advanced AI models to enable human-like conversations. Over time, the device is designed to learn about its users, allowing it to personalise interactions and respond more naturally, reported Bloomberg. The circular gadget will feature moving components that indicate when it is listening or responding, making interactions feel more lifelike than today's stationary smart speakers. It will also include speakers, microphones, lights that signal when it is listening, a camera system and other sensors to understand its surroundings and feed visual information into the AI. The battery-powered device is designed to work in multiple settings, whether held in a user's hand or placed on a bedside table or kitchen counter. What is the price?OpenAI is collaborating with former Apple design chief Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio on the hardware. Ive, whose startup was acquired by OpenAI last year, previously led the design of products including the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch. The company is said to be targeting a premium design with high-quality metal construction and a price tag of $300-$400, making it more expensive than most smart speakers but cheaper than a standard iPhone, reported Bloomberg. The product comes as OpenAI and Apple remain locked in a legal dispute over alleged trade secret theft. Apple has claimed that OpenAI sought to use a confidential metal-finishing technique developed by one of its long-time suppliers. Bloomberg sources said that OpenAI believes the device does not use or violate any Apple trade secrets. However, Apple's request for an injunction against the company, if granted, could complicate the product's planned launch. OpenAI has been aiming to unveil the device this year before releasing it commercially in 2027.
[23]
OpenAI Aims to Redefine Smart Speakers With First AI Device | PYMNTS.com
The design of this artificial intelligence-first computer is meant to make it easy to carry around in the home, to have a personality as it interacts with the user, and to set it apart from the smart speakers currently offered by Apple and Google, according to the report. The device will be equipped with speaker grills and microphones for interacting with users, a camera and other sensors to inform the AI about the environment, and a battery to make it easily portable, the report said. OpenAI filed a motion late Wednesday (Aug. 5) to dismiss a lawsuit in which Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing Apple's intellectual property. In the motion, OpenAI said, per the report: "OpenAI is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple." OpenAI plans to release the device in 2027 and to eventually offer a family of devices, including something that could replace today's smartphones, per the report. OpenAI did not immediately reply to PYMNTS' request for comment. Thursday's report adds new details to Bloomberg's July 14 report that said OpenAI's first device will be a portable smart speaker that serves as an AI companion. Like the earlier report, the Thursday report said the upcoming device will become more personalized to the user over time, will have a personality and will be designed to use in the home but will be portable enough to be easily moved from room to room. Apple filed its lawsuit against OpenAI in July, alleging that two OpenAI employees who previously worked at Apple stole trade secrets to support the development of devices at OpenAI. OpenAI said in its Wednesday filing asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit: "Apple should not be permitted to use a baseless and pretextual lawsuit to make up for its shortcomings in the market for talent and retaining its employees, and its failure to integrate AI into its products."
[24]
OpenAI's new AI device said to be a doughnut-shaped smart speaker with moving parts
OpenAI is developing a new AI-focused device that will reportedly be roughly the size of a hockey puck and shaped like a doughnut. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the device will function as a smart speaker without a display and is being developed as an AI-first computer. The device is designed to help users perform tasks through voice-based interactions and can be carried around the home with one hand. OpenAI expects users to interact with it throughout the day. Design and key features The battery-powered device will feature moving parts that can indicate when it is responding or interacting with the user. It will also have lights to indicate when it is listening. The device will include: * Speaker grilles and microphones for voice commands and conversations * A camera system and other sensors to detect the surrounding environment * Moving components for interaction feedback * Lights to indicate when it is listening * A battery for use away from a fixed power source It will be designed to work in different positions, including when held in the hand or placed on a nightstand or kitchen counter. The device will work similarly to ChatGPT's voice mode on smartphones, but with more advanced AI models for human-like interactions. It is also designed to learn more about users over time and tailor conversations based on that information. Jony Ive's LoveFrom collaboration The device has been designed in collaboration with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio. Ive previously worked on the design of products including the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch. He also co-founded a device startup that OpenAI acquired last year. The device is expected to use high-quality metal and other materials. Its ring-shaped form factor differs from Apple's existing HomePod speakers, which are not battery-powered and are not positioned as dedicated AI-centric home devices. Apple's legal dispute with OpenAI The device is also being developed amid a legal dispute between Apple and OpenAI. Apple has alleged that OpenAI asked one of its long-running suppliers to develop a metal-finishing technique similar to one used by Apple. OpenAI called the claim "too vague and generalized" and said the new device does not use or violate Apple trade secrets. In a court filing, OpenAI said it is "building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple." Apple has requested an injunction, which could affect the device's launch if granted. Expected launch timeline and price OpenAI has been working toward unveiling the device in 2026, with consumer availability planned for 2027. People familiar with the project said development is continuing despite the legal dispute. The company has discussed a price of $300 to $400 per unit. OpenAI also plans to develop a broader range of AI devices, with the longer-term possibility of creating hardware that could replace smartphones.
[25]
OpenAI set to get into the smart home sector with $300 doughnut-shaped puck
OpenAI's highly-anticipated new smart home device is reportedly a small, $300 doughnut-shaped speaker with cameras, movable parts and advanced technological capabilities. The Silicon Valley tech firm's new product-in-development is essentially a smart speaker without a display, designed to be the size of a hockey puck so it's easy to move around the home with one hand, according to a Bloomberg report. OpenAI is looking to launch the product in 2027, marketing it as an AI-first computer that can help users check things off their to-do lists throughout the day, the report said. The moveable parts are meant to give it more personality and seem more lively while it's interacting with the user, according to the report. Its unique design could also help OpenAI stand out from a plethora of smart home speakers from rivals Amazon, Alphabet and especially Apple, which has filed litigation accusing OpenAI of stealing its product designs. OpenAI did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment. It is the first of an ambitious suite of new-age devices that OpenAI plans to eventually offer, with the smart speaker seen as the safest bet to start with - as smart glasses that record video and audio face mounting privacy concerns. The new battery-powered smart device - which was made in collaboration with Jony Ives, Apple's longtime designer - will have speaker grills and microphones so it can converse with customers, as well as lights to show when it's listening. It will also come equipped with a camera system and sensors that can feed visual information about its surroundings - like the customer's home - into the AI bot, according to the report. The device's advanced tech is designed to learn more about the user over time, so it can tailor their conversations - and act more like a human. It will be battery-powered and able to work from different spots around the house, like placed on a kitchen counter or held in a user's hand, the report said. In a recent suit, Apple claimed OpenAI asked a longtime Apple supplier to develop a metal finishing technique for a new product that is similar to what the iPhone maker already offers. OpenAI dismissed the claims, saying the lawsuit is "too vague and generalized." It's unclear if the prototype Apple was referring to is the doughnut-shaped product in development, or a separate new device. Internally, OpenAI is pushing full-steam ahead on its new device despite the legal battle, according to Bloomberg. Consumers have started to grow wary of smart devices, especially wearables, amid reports of people being secretly filmed in public places - like the gym or spa - and fears of their faces being logged in unknown databases. Standard smart speakers, like Amazon's Echo, come equipped with motion sensors, not built-in cameras - but newer versions with display screens, like the popular Echo Show models, have cameras, as well.
[26]
OpenAI and Jony Ive Developing Screen-Free AI Smart Speaker
OpenAI is reportedly preparing to make its consumer hardware debut with an AI-powered smart speaker, marking a significant expansion beyond software and generative AI services. Bloomberg reported that the firm is working on an all-new device without a display, meant to serve as an AI companion rather than a smart speaker. This new device is anticipated to be developed in partnership with the hardware startup io, founded by Jony Ive, who formerly worked at Apple. This device is likely to launch in 2027 and could cost more than $300
[27]
OpenAI's First AI Device Could Skip the Screen Entirely
OpenAI's first AI device could arrive without a traditional screen. Reports suggest it will focus on voice, smart AI features, and a new way of using technology. OpenAI is supposedly developing its first AI device, and it could look nothing like any phone or tablet on the market today. There have been reports of the company working on a device without a traditional screen recently. Rather it will use voice commands and AI to assist users with daily tasks. The device will look like a donut, about the size of a hockey puck, the report says. It can easily be carried around the house by users with a single hand. The device will also be in the $300-$400 range and is currently slated to launch in 2027. OpenAI has not yet or features of the device, as it is still in development. However, the reports say that the device will interact with users and understand its surroundings by using microphones, speakers, cameras, and environmental sensors. It will have a rechargeable battery. The company also wants the device to have some understanding of its environment, so conversations feel more natural. Reports have suggested it could be priced lower than many flagship smartphones, but the company has not shared any official pricing information. The product is reportedly being designed by Jony Ive. He was part of the making of some of the biggest Apple products, and reports say he wants this new device to be simple, useful, and easy to use.
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OpenAI and Jony Ive's rumoured AI speaker may feature moving parts and doughnut shape: How much it might cost
HIGHLIGHTS OpenAI's rumoured smart speaker may be doughnut-shaped. The device is said to be about the size of a hockey puck. It may cost between $300 and $400. OpenAI is reportedly working on its first AI device, which is expected to be a smart speaker. Expected to launch in 2027, the device may feature a doughnut-shaped design and moving parts that make it feel more interactive. The product is reportedly being developed with Jony Ive's design firm, LoveFrom. According to Bloomberg, the screen-less smart speaker could cost between $300 and $400. The new device is said to be about the size of a hockey puck and designed to fit comfortably in one hand. According to the report, the speaker will include moving parts that react while talking to users. It is also expected to have lights that show when it is listening or responding. The device is likely to feature microphones and speakers for voice commands. The speaker may include cameras and other sensors, to help the AI understand its surroundings and provide more personalised responses over time. Also read: OpenAI says its AI agents hacked its own systems before breaching Hugging Face The hardware is reportedly being designed with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. The device is expected to use premium materials, including high-quality metal. For those unaware, Apple mentioned a metal design in its lawsuit against OpenAI. The company claimed that OpenAI approached one of its long-time suppliers to create a metal finishing technique for a new product that is similar to what Apple offers. Also read: After OpenAI and Anthropic, Meta reveals its AI model hacked another company during testing According to the lawsuit, "OpenAI and its cohorts misled the partner to believe they had Apple's permission to have the partner carry out the confidential metal-finishing technique for OpenAI's benefit." OpenAI has denied the allegations. The company described the claim as "too vague and generalised." It further added, "OpenAI is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple."
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OpenAI is developing a premium AI smart speaker priced between $300-$400, designed in partnership with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio. The doughnut-shaped, battery-powered device features moving parts and advanced ChatGPT capabilities, positioning itself as a potential smartphone replacement despite facing Apple's trade secret theft lawsuit.
OpenAI is preparing to launch an AI smart speaker that could cost between $300-$400, marking the company's ambitious entry into the hardware market
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. The premium smart speaker, developed in partnership with Jony Ive's LoveFrom design studio, represents a significant bet on dedicated AI-powered gadgets at a time when OpenAI is losing billions of dollars annually and seeking additional revenue diversification1
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Source: PYMNTS
The device is expected to be revealed this year with a 2027 launch, assuming legal challenges don't disrupt those plans
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. OpenAI views this AI smart speaker as a potential smartphone replacement, positioning it as more than just another voice assistant1
.The doughnut-shaped smart speaker will be roughly the size of a hockey puck, designed to be portable and easy to carry around the home with one hand
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. What distinguishes this hockey puck-sized smart speaker from competitors is its innovative use of moving parts that will operate independently when responding to user prompts, creating a more dynamic user experience1
.The device will feature indicator lights to signal when it's listening, while the moving parts aim to make it seem "more alive than today's stationary speaker products," according to sources familiar with the matter
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. Constructed from high-quality metal and other premium materials, the speaker will have a camera system and sensors to collect and process environmental information2
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Source: TechRadar
The battery-powered design allows users to place it in different locations throughout their home, from bedside tables to kitchen counters
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.The speaker will operate similarly to the ChatGPT voice mode available on mobile apps but with more advanced models designed for humanlike interactivity
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. Unlike traditional smart speakers that handle simple tasks like checking weather, this device pushes an AI-first focus aimed at helping people complete more complex tasks1
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Source: Gadgets 360
The device will learn about users and communicate with them in tailored ways over time, offering personalized interactions that evolve with continued use
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. It will also control smart home devices, integrating ChatGPT capabilities into users' daily routines1
.At $300-$400, OpenAI's device would be significantly more expensive than most smart speakers currently available. For comparison, Amazon's smart home speakers range from $40 on the low end to $240 on the high end, with the most expensive options like the 15.6-inch $300 Echo Show 15 including displays or the $220 Echo Studio featuring virtual surround sound
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.The main appeal of the OpenAI speaker centers on ChatGPT capabilities rather than advanced hardware features like displays or premium audio
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. This presents a challenge: OpenAI is betting on consumers' willingness to pay substantial money for dedicated hardware to access chatbot features, many of which already require subscription fees on top of the device cost1
.Fitting advanced technology into a hockey puck-sized form factor poses significant engineering challenges, particularly regarding sound quality, battery life, and response speed
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.Related Stories
Apple is currently suing OpenAI, accusing the company of trade secret theft related to its hardware development, specifically alleging that OpenAI stole confidential product design and development information and asked manufacturers to copy Apple's metal finishing
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. OpenAI launched an internal probe following Apple's lawsuit and determined that the speaker doesn't use Apple intellectual property1
.The irony isn't lost that the device designed by former Apple designer Jony Ive through his LoveFrom design studio has become the center of legal dispute with Apple
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. Sources indicate the device will look and feel nothing like an Apple product despite Ive's involvement5
.OpenAI's entry into the hardware market comes at a time when the smart speaker industry has faced severe profitability obstacles
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. The company must contend with privacy concerns that have intensified as AI-powered devices become more commonplace in homes4
.Competitors like Amazon Echo with Alexa Plus and Google Home with Gemini already offer AI features that can adapt to user habits, order food, and answer questions about security camera footage
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. Whether OpenAI's speaker will match or exceed these capabilities remains unclear.This device could be the first in a family of devices OpenAI has planned, suggesting broader ambitions in the hardware market beyond this initial speaker
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. The speaker would join OpenAI's only other gadget so far, the $230 Codex Micro mini keyboard1
.Watch for how OpenAI navigates the Apple lawsuit, whether the final pricing lands closer to $300 or $400, and if the company can justify premium pricing without advanced hardware like displays that consumers expect at this price point. The success of this device will test whether users value dedicated AI hardware enough to pay significantly more than existing alternatives, potentially reshaping expectations for AI-powered gadgets in the home.
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