Open AI enters the consumer hardware market: the first screenless smart speaker is exposed, and its future goal is to "replace mobile phones"
OpenAI plans to launch a portable, screen-less smart speaker, which will be the company's first consumer-facing hardware product, media reported on Tuesday. It is reported that the device can linkage control smart home appliances and deeply call all the capabilities of ChatGPT. The core design feature of this device is that it will continuously complete personalized iterations and proactively provide services to users based on its in-depth understanding of users' usage habits. Its core highlight is that it has exclusive personality traits and can establish a human-like emotional connection with users.
OpenAI plans to launch a portable, screen-less smart speaker, which will be the company's first consumer-facing hardware product, media reported on Tuesday. It is reported that the device can linkage control smart home appliances and deeply call all the capabilities of ChatGPT. The core design feature of this device is that it will continuously complete personalized iterations and proactively provide services to users based on its in-depth understanding of users' usage habits. Its core highlight is that it has exclusive personality traits and can establish a human-like emotional connection with users. Just days ago, Apple sued the artificial intelligence (AI) startup and former Apple employees for allegedly stealing trade secrets. Apple's complaint filed on Friday said that OpenAI orchestrated a "large-scale operation" through former employees, recruitment practices and supplier relationships to systematically obtain and exploit Apple's confidential information to accelerate its plan to enter the consumer hardware market. After OpenAI launches this device, it may open up new revenue streams for the company that is preparing for an IPO. Last year, OpenAI spent $6.5 billion to acquire io, an AI device startup founded by Apple's former design director Jony Ive, with the aim of developing new hardware products suitable for the era of generative artificial intelligence. According to people familiar with the matter, this product is still in the research and development stage and looks similar to a smart speaker. Its design goal is to serve as an AI companion with human interaction capabilities in the home environment. The report pointed out that the device will be able to control smart home devices, play media content, answer user questions, process messages, and invoke the broader AI capabilities behind ChatGPT. For example, users can take the device to the laundry room while doing housework, move it to the kitchen for help while cooking, and later place it in the living room or bedroom to play music. The device will also be equipped with cameras and sensors to understand the user's environment and specific situations, and will also be equipped with a more advanced AI model than traditional smart speakers. The report also stated that Jony Ive’s design studio LoveFrom is also assisting OpenAI in building a hardware business. The project involves a number of former Apple designers and engineers who have participated in the development of products such as iPhone and Mac. The rumored smart speaker is expected to be released in 2027 as part of OpenAI’s larger hardware lineup. Currently, the hardware plan is said to include about five devices, and OpenAI's longer-term plans include building "a mobile AI device that can replace smartphones." In addition, OpenAI has recently been warming up a Codex hardware device called Codex Micro, which is developed in cooperation with Work Louder and is scheduled to be released on July 15. (