Memes mocking the merchandise did not appear to put off customers
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A $70 basketball emblazoned with ChatGPT’s brand has sold out within a day of launching, despite being widely ridiculed online.
The product’s description notes that it comes from OpenAI’s ‘. Play. Prompt.’ campaign, claiming that it is a “physical reminder that creativity doesn’t just live on our screens”.
“Sometimes the best ideas show up between open runs,” the description states.
The price tag represents a significant markup for similar Size 7 rubber basketballs, which typically cost around $20 in most sporting goods stores in the US.
The price, as well as the branding, were the target of comments and memes mocking the merchandise on social media.
“Legitimately what is the difference between this and a regular ass basketball I could buy at a sports store for way cheaper,” one user wrote on X.
TechCrunch’s Amanda Siberling wrote: “You could not pay me $70 to walk onto a community court in Philadelphia with this ChatGPT basketball.”
OpenAI did not reveal how many basketballs were for sale before they sold out.* The Independent* has reached out for more information.
Others noted that OpenAI’s decision to sell a ChatGPT basketball was part of a broader strategy to build a lifestyle brand out of a product that until this week has only existed on people’s screens.
“Beyond the jokes, this says something real about where the AI industry is right now,” said AI creative specialist Eugenio Fierro.
“Companies are trying to step outside the screen and build a more tangible brand identity, even as their entire business model depends on people spending more time inside chats and agents.
“For marketers and creators, it’s a live case study in how hard it is to translate a brand born digital into physical objects without looking out of touch.”
The ChatGPT basketball was launched alongside other branded merchandise, including baseball caps, water bottles and tote bags.
The company’s first ever piece of hardware, a $230 miniature keyboard called Codex Micro, was also unveiled and has since sold out. Billed as an AI coding assistant for users of OpenAI’s Codex tool, the keyboard features a joystick, a rotary dial and 12 buttons.
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