OpenAI is preparing a screenless, "donut"-shaped smart speaker as its first consumer hardware. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that it is being built with Jony Ive, the former Apple designer.
A Screenless Donut Speaker: What the $300 Buys
- Form: a hockey-puck-sized donut (ring) with a built-in battery and no screen
- Price: $300 to $400, more than a typical smart speaker
- Features: camera, microphone, speaker, and lights, plus parts that move on their own in response to give it a "living" feel
- Experience: a more advanced version of ChatGPT voice mode, with more human, personalized conversation
- Timeline: unveiling this year, with a 2027 launch expected
OpenAI's Hardware Bet Starts With One Speaker
1. This is the starting point of OpenAI's hardware roadmap. The speaker is the first of about five hardware products OpenAI is preparing, and some read the long-term goal as replacing the smartphone.
2. Jony Ive's involvement is the key. Ive led design at Apple, and he is expected to bring premium materials and craft to OpenAI's hardware.
3. It is an attempt to make AI feel alive. A design where moving parts react and interact with the user aims for a companion rather than a plain speaker.
A 2027 Launch Is Still Just a Bloomberg Report
This is still a Bloomberg exclusive, not an official announcement. The launch timing could change depending on the outcome of Apple's (trade secret) lawsuit against OpenAI. OpenAI has asked for the suit to be dismissed.
Experience Over Price: Where AI Devices Aim Next
A screenless AI device reads as a statement that it will compete on experience, not price. $300 to $400 is a different choice from the price range of the regular speaker market. It is worth watching until launch to see whether AI hardware can create a new category beyond the smartphone.
Related: The Verge · Engadget · Android Authority