OpenAI may be working on AI-powered earbuds with built-in ChatGPT support

OpenAI

• OpenAI developing AI earbuds "Sweetpea" to compete with Apple AirPods
• Earbuds may provide real-time conversation, translation, and ChatGPT-based help.
• Foxconn prototypes may arrive before full-scale launch in 2028.

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OpenAI may soon be ready to step out of the world of apps and into your ears. According to a new leak, the company behind ChatGPT is working on its first-ever consumer hardware product — a pair of AI-powered earbuds designed to take on Apple’s AirPods and other premium wireless earbuds.

The leak, shared by tipster Smart Pikachu on X, suggests that OpenAI has an internal project codenamed “Sweetpea” that focuses on AI-first audio hardware. Unlike traditional earbuds that simply play music or handle calls, these earbuds are expected to listen, understand context, and respond in real time using ChatGPT. In simple terms, this could mean having a conversational AI assistant with you throughout the day, without pulling out your phone.

This idea fits closely with CEO Sam Altman’s long-term vision of bringing AI into everyday life in more natural ways. It also builds on OpenAI’s collaboration with Jony Ive, the designer behind some of Apple’s most iconic products. Announced last year, the partnership is focused on creating “screen-free” AI devices, and Sweetpea appears to be the most advanced outcome of that effort so far.

Manufacturing duties are reportedly being handled by Foxconn, Apple’s longtime production partner. The leak claims Foxconn is preparing five prototype devices, including the AI earbuds, a pen-like gadget, and a home-style device. The earbuds themselves are said to feature an unusual “egg-stone” design and could run on a powerful 2nm chip, possibly from Samsung’s Exynos lineup, to handle on-device AI processing.

What makes this move especially interesting is the timing. Apple is expected to add more AI-driven features to AirPods around 2026, but OpenAI seems to be positioning Sweetpea as a more AI-native product from day one. Features like real-time translation, contextual help, and hands-free conversations could set it apart in a market that already generates over $20 billion annually.

While full-scale production may still be a few years away, possibly around 2028, the leak suggests pilot versions could arrive much sooner. If true, OpenAI’s earbuds could mark the beginning of a much bigger push into consumer hardware — and a future where talking to AI feels as natural as listening to music.