Economy February 20, 2026

OpenAI Assembles 200-Plus Team to Build AI-Enabled Speaker, Glasses and Lamp

Company is reportedly prioritizing a camera-equipped smart speaker priced $200-$300, with ship timelines stretching into 2027 and 2028

By Sofia Navarro
OpenAI Assembles 200-Plus Team to Build AI-Enabled Speaker, Glasses and Lamp

OpenAI has gathered a team exceeding 200 people to develop a line of AI-driven consumer devices, including a smart speaker, smart glasses, and a smart lamp. The smart speaker is slated to be the first product, reportedly carrying a $200 to $300 price target and a built-in camera to collect data on users and their surroundings. Sources say the speaker would not ship before February 2027, and the smart glasses are not expected to reach mass production until 2028.

Key Points

  • OpenAI has assembled a team of more than 200 people to develop AI-powered consumer devices, including a smart speaker, smart glasses, and a smart lamp - sectors affected include consumer electronics and AI hardware.
  • The smart speaker is slated to be the first product, with sources citing a $200 to $300 price range and a camera that gathers information about users and surroundings - this has implications for device manufacturers and consumer hardware retailers.
  • The earliest possible shipping window for the speaker is February 2027, while the smart glasses are not expected to be ready for mass production until 2028 - supply chain, manufacturing, and semiconductor sectors may be impacted by these timelines.

OpenAI has reportedly put together a group of more than 200 staff members to create a suite of consumer electronics that use the company's artificial intelligence capabilities. The product family under development includes a smart speaker, a pair of smart glasses, and a smart lamp.

According to two people familiar with the effort, the smart speaker is intended to be the first device to reach the market. Those same sources indicated a target price range between $200 and $300 for the speaker. The device is described as including a camera component that would enable it to gather information about users and the environments in which it operates. The earliest possible shipping date for the speaker is reportedly February 2027.

The development timeline for the other devices appears longer. Sources say the smart glasses are unlikely to be ready for mass production before 2028. The report did not provide a detailed timeline for the smart lamp or specific technical specifications beyond the speaker's inclusion of a camera.

The assembled team, numbering in excess of 200 people, is focused on bringing multiple hardware products to market, with the smart speaker prioritized as the initial consumer offering. Price guidance, feature descriptions, and the stated timelines described above come from individuals with knowledge of the project.

Beyond the device types, the available information is limited. There are no further public details provided about manufacturing partners, distribution plans, regional rollouts, or additional product specifications. Similarly, the report does not offer statements from company representatives or confirmations from manufacturing partners.

As presented, the development effort centers on combining AI functionality with consumer hardware in an array of products. The smart speaker, notable for its planned camera-based data collection and its targeted $200-$300 price point, is positioned as the company's initial foray into shipping tangible consumer devices, with subsequent devices following according to the production timeline indicated by sources.

Risks

  • Timing uncertainty: the smart speaker reportedly will not ship before February 2027 and the smart glasses are not expected for mass production until 2028, creating execution and scheduling risks for manufacturers and supply-chain partners.
  • Privacy and data concerns: the smart speaker is planned to include a camera that gathers information about users and their surroundings, which may raise regulatory and consumer privacy considerations for technology and services sectors.
  • Limited public details: available information does not include manufacturing partners, distribution strategies, or additional technical specifications, increasing uncertainty for investors and firms in adjacent hardware and retail markets.

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