OpenAI eyes smart speaker, glasses and lamp in ambitious hardware push

OpenAI

• OpenAI plans AI-powered smart speaker launch by early 2027
• Smart glasses and lamp prototypes are also in development
• Jony Ive leads hardware design, privacy concerns pose challenges

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OpenAI may soon move beyond software. According to reports, the company is developing a range of AI-powered hardware products, including a smart speaker, smart glasses and even a smart lamp. The effort signals a broader ambition: bringing its artificial intelligence directly into consumers’ homes.

Smart speaker first, glasses later

According to The Information, OpenAI has assembled a team of more than 200 employees to work on consumer hardware. The first product expected to launch is a smart speaker, reportedly targeted for release no earlier than early 2027.

The device would include a built-in camera designed to better understand users and their surroundings. Reporting suggests it could identify objects placed nearby and even process conversations happening around it. The camera is also expected to support facial authentication similar to Face ID, allowing users to approve purchases securely.

The speaker is said to be priced between $200 and $300, positioning it alongside existing premium smart home devices.

AI-powered smart glasses are reportedly planned next, though not before 2028. That would place OpenAI in more direct competition with Meta, which currently has a head start in the AI glasses category. A smart lamp has also been prototyped, though its commercial future remains uncertain.

Ive’s design influence and privacy hurdles

Last year, OpenAI acquired io Products, a startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a deal valued at $6.5 billion. Ive, who shaped much of Apple’s modern hardware aesthetic before leaving in 2019, is expected to lead design efforts for OpenAI’s hardware portfolio.

However, the path to market has reportedly not been smooth. Technical constraints, privacy concerns and the computing demands of running advanced AI models on consumer devices have already caused delays. A speaker that continuously listens and observes its environment could also face scepticism from buyers wary of surveillance risks.

For OpenAI, the challenge will be twofold: proving the hardware adds meaningful value beyond existing smart assistants, and convincing users that convenience does not come at the cost of privacy.