OpenAI’s first hardware device sounds half-speaker, half-robot

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR

• OpenAI’s first device could be a movable, screenless smart speaker designed as a physical version of ChatGPT.
• The leak suggests the device may use cameras, sensors, and personal data to become more proactive and personalized.
• OpenAI reportedly plans to unveil it this year and release it in 2027, though the timeline could change.

OpenAI has been talking up its move into hardware for some time, but the shape of its first device has remained unclear. According to a new report, the company is starting with a movable, screenless smart speaker designed to act as a physical manifestation of ChatGPT in the home.

Bloomberg reports that the details come from people familiar with the project, who asked not to be identified because it hasn’t been announced. The device is still under development and is intended to serve as a humanlike AI companion, capable of controlling smart-home appliances, playing media, answering questions, responding to messages, and drawing on ChatGPT’s broader capabilities.