OpenAI's smart speaker might be revealed this year. However, it won't be available for purchase until next year.

OpenAI has so far been known mainly for software, but now it’s entering the world of hardware. After the limited Codex Micro keyboard, which has just hit the market, its first major device is expected to be a smart speaker controlled by ChatGPT AI – and according to the latest reports, we could see the first mention of it this year.

What the smart speaker can do

According to Bloomberg, which is also cited by The Verge, it will be a speaker without a display. The device is supposed to “understand” its surroundings using a camera and other sensors and communicate via GPT-Live, an improved voice model that OpenAI introduced last week.

The speaker is also expected to have a rechargeable battery, so it can be carried around. It should be capable of smart home control, media playback, answering queries, and responding to messages. Bloomberg also mentions mechanical elements that can move on their own and are intended to “connect with the user on a more human level.” A similar device with a camera recognizing objects and people in its surroundings was described by The Information back in February this year.

When it will arrive and how much it will cost

Here, expectations need to be managed. The speaker is expected to hit the market only in 2027 as part of a broader hardware family, which Bloomberg estimates will include “roughly” five devices. This year, it’s more likely that only its official unveiling will take place, not its sale.

OpenAI is collaborating on the development with former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, following the acquisition of his design studio io Products for nearly 6.5 billion dollars. Bloomberg estimates the speaker’s price to be 200 to 300 dollars, which is roughly 4,200 to 6,400 Czech crowns. OpenAI has also been planning its own phone for a long time, so the speaker would likely not be the last piece of a larger puzzle.

A dispute with Apple has entered the picture

News of the speaker came just days after Apple sued OpenAI over alleged theft of hardware secrets. OpenAI stated in a Tuesday announcement that it “is not aware of any evidence that would make this lawsuit substantiated.” The entire leak thus fell at a sensitive moment when both companies are vying not only for engineers but also for the future form of smart devices.

For now, it holds that OpenAI’s smart speaker exists only as leaks – the company has not confirmed official parameters or dates, so take all figures with a grain of salt.

Will OpenAI release its first major device as planned, or will the date be pushed back further?

Sources: The Verge, Bloomberg