OpenAI is developing a range of AI-powered devices, including a smart speaker, smart glasses, and a smart lamp, with a team of over 200 employees dedicated to the project.
The first product scheduled for release is a smart speaker featuring a camera designed to gather information about users and their surroundings. According to reporting, the camera will identify objects on nearby surfaces and capture conversations held in the vicinity of the device. It will also support a facial recognition feature similar to Apple’s Face ID, enabling users to authenticate purchases. The speaker is expected to retail between $200 and $300, with shipping slated for early 2027 at the earliest.
The company’s AI-powered smart glasses are planned for 2028, entering a market currently dominated by Meta. A smart lamp has reached the prototype stage, but it remains unclear if it will be brought to market. Last year, OpenAI acquired Jony Ive’s startup io Products for $6.5 billion. Ive is considered largely responsible for Apple’s design aesthetic from the 1990s until his departure in 2019. His acquisition sets the stage for him to lead hardware product development for OpenAI.
Since the partnership began, the project has experienced delays due to technical issues, privacy concerns, and logistical issues surrounding the computing power necessary to run mass-produced AI devices. The products may face consumer resistance due to concerns about always-on listening and watching capabilities.
