Open AI is developing a smart speaker that turns into an AI companion as its first hardware product
According to people familiar with the matter, OpenAI’s much-anticipated first hardware device will be a removable, screen-less smart speaker, positioned as a new type of home computer in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). People familiar with the matter said that the product, which is still under development, will become a home AI companion with human characteristics. The device will help users control smart home devices, play media content, answer questions, reply to messages, and invoke ChatGPT’s extensive functions. The device represents a key step into hardware for the leading AI model developer, bringing it into line with and Alphabet’s Launch deeper competition. OpenAI is reportedly considering an IPO as soon as 2027. However, OpenAI’s hardware layout has encountered resistance. Apple last week sued OpenAI for stealing trade secrets. But OpenAI believes the device is significantly different from anything Apple currently sells and is unlikely to infringe on the iPhone maker's trade secrets, people familiar with the matter said. On the left is former Apple design guru Jony Ive, on the right is OpenAI CEO Sam Altman OpenAI's success in hardware will depend on its ability to enter the market in novel ways, which is exactly what the company hopes to achieve with this smart speaker. People familiar with the matter said that this device will deepen its understanding of the owner over time and become more and more personalized and proactive. OpenAI hopes that this device can predict user needs and proactively present information. OpenAI believes that the defining feature of this product will be having a "personality" and the ability to communicate with users on a human-like level. The speaker contains mechanical parts that move autonomously, creating a feeling of being "alive" rather than just an object that responds to commands. The device will also recall personal information such as emails to better understand the user. OpenAI's hardware division is developing about five different products, but plans to use this speaker as a starting point to make it the physical incarnation of ChatGPT. The company aims to release the product this year and have it available in 2027, although that timeline could change due to legal proceedings. Apple is seeking an injunction against its OpenAI hardware business.