OpenAI is entering the consumer hardware market with plans to release a range of AI-powered devices, including a smart speaker, smart glasses, and a smart lamp, according to industry reports.
The company has reportedly mobilised over 200 staff to work on the project, with the smart speaker set to be the first product available. Sources familiar with the development say the device will retail for between $200 and $300, although shipments are not expected before February 2027. The speaker is expected to feature a camera to gather contextual information about users and their surroundings, enabling more interactive and personalised AI responses.
Brandspur Tech News reports that OpenAI has also begun work on smart glasses, though mass production is unlikely until 2028. Additional concepts under development include a smart lamp and an AI-powered wearable pin. The company officially entered the hardware space in 2025 through the $6.5 billion acquisition of io Products, a startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive. Ive’s design studio is now collaborating with OpenAI on the new device lineup.
By developing its own hardware, OpenAI aims to fully control the user experience of its AI systems, integrating software and device design to provide a seamless ecosystem. This move positions the company against technology leaders such as Meta Platforms, which sells AI-enabled Ray-Ban smart glasses, Apple’s reported smart glasses project, and Google’s augmented reality hardware experiments.
Industry analysts caution that devices with cameras and sensors may face regulatory scrutiny over privacy concerns, particularly in regions with stringent data protection laws like the European Union. Nonetheless, OpenAI’s first smart speaker remains the focal point for the 2027 launch, marking the company’s bold expansion from software into consumer AI hardware.
This development underscores OpenAI’s strategy to diversify revenue streams while deepening engagement with end users, creating new opportunities in the competitive AI device market.
