OpenAI is reportedly exploring the development of ChatGPT-powered smart glasses, a move that contrasts with previous public statements made by CEO Sam Altman rejecting the form factor.
At the Sun Valley Conference in July, Altman, while wearing white sunglasses with thick temples, was asked if he was wearing smart glasses. He replied, “no, absolutely not, I don’t like smart glasses.” This response came two months after OpenAI formally announced its entry into hardware through the acquisition of Jony Ive’s hardware startup, io, and a partnership with his design firm, LoveFrom.
Following the deal, The Wall Street Journal reported that Altman told OpenAI staff the company’s first device would be a screenless, pocket-sized product, specifically stating it would not be glasses or any other wearable. However, a recent report from The Information indicates that OpenAI is now hiring design, manufacturing, and supply chain experts from Apple to build “a whole line” of devices.
The report details that OpenAI is currently working on a smart speaker and the previously mentioned pocket-sized device. The company has also “considered” making smart glasses, a digital voice recorder, and a wearable pin. OpenAI’s first consumer devices are not expected to launch until late 2026 or 2027. If the company decides to produce smart glasses, their release would likely be several years away.
The potential market for such devices was highlighted during Meta’s Connect 2025 event, where Michael Abrash discussed future smart glasses featuring always-on sensing to deliver spatial “contextual AI.” Continued rapid adoption of smart glasses by companies like Meta, Google, and Apple could establish the form factor as a primary interface for AI. Such a trend could give these companies a significant advantage, potentially leaving a later-entering OpenAI at a competitive disadvantage.
