OpenAI’s upcoming hardware project, developed in collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, is shaping up to be an unconventional addition to the tech landscape. According to internal discussions reported by The Wall Street Journal, the device is not expected to be a smartphone or a wearable, and it may not feature a screen at all.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly outlined the company’s ambitions for the product during a recent employee meeting, following the acquisition of Ive’s design firm io. Altman characterized the initiative as potentially the most significant in OpenAI’s history, with aspirations of positioning the device as an essential tool alongside laptops and smartphones.
Hints from Altman and Ive suggest that the product will be environment-aware and able to understand user activity in real-time. It’s described as unobtrusive, portable, and suitable for both on-the-go and desktop use. Crucially, the device is intended to operate without a traditional display, aligning with a broader ambition to move away from screen-dominated interactions. Altman confirmed it won’t take the form of smart glasses, and Ive reportedly had little interest in creating a wearable product.
OpenAI and Ive are keeping specific details under wraps to avoid early imitation from competitors. However, the device is slated for launch late next year, with the team aiming to ship 100 million units rapidly—a notably ambitious production goal. Discussions with manufacturing partners have already been underway for several months.
The partnership between OpenAI and Ive began over a year ago with plans for io to design a product that integrates OpenAI’s models. Over time, this evolved into a broader vision, culminating in OpenAI’s $6.5 billion acquisition of the design firm. The success of this device will depend on its ability to offer a compelling new way to engage with generative AI, especially in light of recent failures from similar ventures, such as Humane’s discontinued Ai Pin.
