{"slug": "openais-70-chatgpt-basketball-sells-out-despite-online-mockery", "title": "OpenAI’s $70 ChatGPT basketball sells out despite online mockery", "summary": "OpenAI's $70 ChatGPT-branded basketball sold out within a day of its launch, despite widespread online mockery over its high price compared to standard basketballs. The merchandise is part of OpenAI's 'Pause. Play. Prompt.' campaign to build a tangible brand identity for the AI company.", "body_md": "# OpenAI’s $70 ChatGPT basketball sells out despite online mockery\n\nMemes mocking the merchandise did not appear to put off customers\n\n- Bookmark\n- CommentsGo to comments\n\nA $70 basketball emblazoned with [ChatGPT](/topic/chatgpt)’s brand has sold out within a day of launching, despite being widely ridiculed online.\n\nThe product’s description notes that it comes from [OpenAI](/topic/openai)’s ‘Pause. Play. Prompt.’ campaign, claiming that it is a “physical reminder that creativity doesn’t just live on our screens”.\n\n“Sometimes the best ideas show up between open runs,” the description states.\n\nThe 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.\n\nThe price, as well as the branding, were the target of comments and memes mocking the merchandise on social media.\n\n“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](https://x.com/SunsetGradient/status/2077972347819262052).\n\nTechCrunch’s Amanda Siberling wrote: “You could not pay me $70 to walk onto a community court in Philadelphia with this ChatGPT basketball.”\n\nOpenAI did not reveal how many basketballs were for sale before they sold out.* The Independent* has reached out for more information.\n\nOthers 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.\n\n“Beyond the jokes, this says something real about where the AI industry is right now,” said AI creative specialist Eugenio Fierro.\n\n“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.\n\n“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.”\n\nThe ChatGPT basketball was launched alongside other branded merchandise, including baseball caps, water bottles and tote bags.\n\nThe company’s first ever piece of hardware, a[ $230 miniature keyboard called Codex Micro](/tech/openai-keyboard-ai-codex-micro-apple-b3015979.html), was also unveiled and has since sold out.\n\nBilled as an AI coding assistant for users of OpenAI’s Codex tool, the keyboard features a joystick, a rotary dial and 12 buttons.\n\n## Join our commenting forum\n\nJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies\n\n[Comments](#comments-area)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openais-70-chatgpt-basketball-sells-out-despite-online-mockery", "canonical_source": "https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/chatgpt-basketball-openai-merch-ai-b3016912.html", "published_at": "2026-07-17 15:46:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-17 15:58:32.842569+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-products", "ai-startups"], "entities": ["OpenAI", "ChatGPT", "Eugenio Fierro", "Codex Micro"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openais-70-chatgpt-basketball-sells-out-despite-online-mockery", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openais-70-chatgpt-basketball-sells-out-despite-online-mockery.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openais-70-chatgpt-basketball-sells-out-despite-online-mockery.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openais-70-chatgpt-basketball-sells-out-despite-online-mockery.jsonld"}}