OpenAI aims to ship its first device in 2026, and it could be earbuds

OpenAI generated a lot of hype around hardware last year after it acquired former Apple design head Jony Ive’s startup io. Although the company remains tight-lipped about the upcoming product, OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane said in a statement Axios-hosted panel in Davos the AI ​​startup is on track to announce its first hardware device in the second half of this year.

Last November, Altman described the potential device as “more peaceful and calm” than iPhones. Previous reports suggest that the company is looking to build a screen-free, pocket-sized device.

Although the company is not releasing details, more recent reporting shows Asian publications And leaking suggests that OpenAI’s first device could be a pair of earbuds. According to reports, this device is codenamed “Sweet Pea” and will have a unique design compared to existing earbuds. The earbuds could run on a custom 2-nanometer processor and handle AI tasks locally instead of sending requests to the cloud.

A separate report from a major Taiwanese newspaper noted that OpenAI was exploring a partnership with China-based Luxshare for manufacturing, but could ultimately lean in favor of Taiwan’s Foxconn. The report also said that OpenAI aims to ship 40 to 50 million units in its first year of sales.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has nearly a billion weekly users, but the company relies on other devices and platforms for distribution. With its own device, it may want to gain more control over the development and distribution of the AI ​​assistant and also release exclusive and purpose-built features.

However, replacing existing earbuds like AirPods in users’ daily lives will be a challenge without strong integration with operating systems.

So far, there hasn’t been a notable success story about AI devices. Last year, Humane Pin was sold to HP. Rabbit is still chugging along after its initial 2024 hype. And the Friend AI companion necklace was quickly criticized for its marketing tactics.

That said, major tech companies are making moves toward wearables. Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses continue to improve in size and scale to the point where the Facebook maker can’t keep up with demand. And Amazon recently acquired Bee, an AI meeting recorder that could serve as a companion.