OpenAI's first hardware is a screenless AI speaker with moving parts

OpenAI’s first hardware product is reportedly a screenless mobile smart speaker designed to be a “humanlike AI companion that lives in the home.” According to Bloomberg, the device integrates deeply with ChatGPT and can proactively learn about its owner over time, drawing on emails, calendar data, and other digital information to provide personalized assistance. Uniquely, the speaker includes mechanical elements that allow it to move on its own, giving it a physical presence that feels like a companion. The project is being led by a team of former Apple engineers who worked on the iPhone and Mac, signaling OpenAI’s ambition to create a new category of consumer hardware. The company claims the device “veers significantly from anything Apple has on the market today.”

However, the launch is clouded by legal troubles. Apple recently sued OpenAI, accusing the AI company of stealing trade secrets related to this very hardware project. Apple called the alleged violations “the tip of the iceberg,” while OpenAI denies any wrongdoing. The broader context is a surge of investment in AI-first hardware. Hark, an AI lab led by Brett Adcock, raised $700 million at a $6 billion valuation to build “personal intelligence” devices. Despite no product yet, capital is flooding the category, making OpenAI’s move both risky and timely.