OpenAI has gathered a dedicated group of more than 200 employees to design and build a series of AI-driven consumer devices, according to people familiar with the plans. The lineup is said to include a smart speaker as the first commercial offering, with potential follow-on products such as smart glasses and a smart lamp.
The smart speaker is expected to carry a price tag in the $200 to $300 range. It will incorporate a camera that allows the device to capture information about users and their environment. Development timelines place the earliest possible shipping date for that speaker at February 2027.
Work on smart glasses is also under way, though those devices are not projected to be ready for large-scale production until 2028. The reported schedules indicate a multi-year roadmap for bringing these hardware products to market.
OpenAI entered the hardware space following a $6.5 billion acquisition of io Products, the design firm led by former Apple designer Jony Ive. That purchase aligned the company with established industrial design resources as it pursues physical AI products and augmented reality efforts.
Other companies in the consumer hardware and augmented reality space have seen varied product strategies. Some existing smart-glasses products allow users to record images and stream content using integrated miniature cameras, and major technology firms are developing their own versions of such devices. Within this competitive context, OpenAI's plans position it alongside other technology firms seeking to combine AI capabilities with physical devices.
Details on final pricing, precise feature sets beyond the inclusion of a camera in the speaker, and commercial launch plans beyond the cited earliest dates remain limited. The company has not provided an immediate public comment on the reported product plans.
Summary
OpenAI is reportedly staffing a large hardware effort focused on AI-enabled consumer devices. The campaign centers first on a camera-equipped smart speaker priced near $200 to $300, with shipment not expected before February 2027. Smart glasses and a smart lamp are additional projects, with the glasses unlikely to reach mass production until 2028. The hardware push follows a major acquisition of a prominent design firm.