OpenAI's First Hardware Product Could Be a Portable AI Smart Speaker

OpenAI is developing its first hardware product, a portable AI smart speaker designed as a screen-free voice assistant to compete with Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Gemini, according to a Bloomberg report. The device, built with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, aims to offer a personalized AI companion with ChatGPT capabilities and could launch this year with shipments in 2027. The report follows Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI alleging trade secret theft related to the hardware project.

OpenAI has been tight-lipped about the AI hardware it’s building with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, but a new leak reveals their first product could be a smart home speaker. The speaker is reportedly designed to work as an AI companion at home. In addition to querying, the speaker could be used to control smart home appliances, play music, respond to messages, and support a range of other ChatGPT capabilities, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-14/openai-s-first-device-will-be-moveable-screenless-speaker-built-as-ai-companion . Sources describe the device as “mobile” and “screen-free,” suggesting most operations would be voice-based. This would also make the rumored product a competitor to Alexa, Siri /operating-systems/165456/siri-voice-spicier-how-to-get-apple-ios-27-developer-beta-3-right-now , and Gemini-based smart speakers /smart-home/92422/the-best-smart-speakers from Amazon, Apple, and Google, respectively. OpenAI hopes to stand out by positioning its AI as an expert on matters and equipping it with a personality that can customize its responses and connect with the user on a human level, the report adds. The speaker is likely to use ChatGPT’s new GPT-Live voice model /ai/166078/chatgpts-new-voice-models-aim-for-more-human-like-conversations . Barring any legal hurdles, OpenAI could unveil the device this year and begin shipping it to users in 2027, Bloomberg says. Apple has been rumored https://me.pcmag.com/en/smart-home-2/35859/new-apple-homepad-leak-tips-2026-launch-magsafe-like-wall-mount to be developing AI-powered smart home devices /smart-home/159107/apples-smart-home-hub-is-reportedly-delayed-until-2026 . Bloomberg’s report arrives after the iPhone-maker sued OpenAI /topic-3/166106/apple-sues-openai-alleges-its-hardware-business-is-rotten-to-the-core for allegedly stealing its trade secrets. The lawsuit claims that after acquiring /ai/158164/openai-wants-to-eventually-sell-you-a-jony-ive-designed-ai-gadget Ive’s io Products, OpenAI poached Apple employees or pressured them to divulge their work during job interviews The complaint https://www.scribd.com/document/1060569754/Apple-Suit-Openai? gl=1 15q0d5h up MQ.. ga MjAxMTA0MTcyNi4xNzgzNzE3ODY3 ga Z4ZC50DED6 czE3ODM3MTc4NjUkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODM3MTc4NzIkajUzJGwwJGgw ga 8KZ8BV0P5W czE3ODM3MTc4NjUkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODM3MTc4NzIkajUzJGwwJGgw google vignette primarily targets Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu, two former Apple employees who have now joined OpenAI. Tan is OpenAI’s current hardware chief, and he has been accused of conducting these interviews. Liu, meanwhile, has been accused of failing to return an Apple-issued laptop and exploiting a software bug to gain unauthorized access to Apple’s systems. Disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.