OpenAI’s first consumer device could be a screenless AI companion

According to Bloomberg, OpenAI is preparing its first consumer device — a screenless AI speaker. It is expected to be rechargeable and compact enough to carry from room to room, offering help in the kitchen before returning to the living room or bedroom.

The device is described as a “lifelike AI companion” that could hold natural ChatGPT-style conversations, control smart-home equipment and play audio. OpenAI reportedly wants to avoid making another conventional smart speaker, so the enclosure may include mechanical parts that move on their own and make the object feel more alive.

The speaker is expected to use a more advanced version of GPT-Live, OpenAI’s voice technology. It may be able to listen and speak at the same time, process new information faster and respond more actively during conversations. A camera and other sensors could help it understand its surroundings and provide more personalized answers.

The design is being developed by the io team, the company created with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. OpenAI acquired io in 2025 in a deal valued at about $6.5 billion. A launch is reportedly planned for 2027, although the schedule could change amid Apple’s lawsuit over the alleged use of trade secrets in hardware development.

Apple recently sued OpenAI and two former employees, accusing them of misappropriating confidential information. The company alleges that Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan accessed sensitive materials related to Apple hardware projects. Apple also claims that OpenAI has hired more than 400 former Apple employees, including Paul Meade, who previously worked on Vision Pro and now belongs to OpenAI’s hardware organization. The division itself is led by former Apple executive Tang Tan.