OpenAI’s Smart Speaker with Camera to Rival Google Home
▼ Summary
– OpenAI is reportedly developing a smart speaker, its first hardware product, in collaboration with former Apple designer Jony Ive, with a planned launch in early 2027.
– The device, priced between $200 and $300, will feature an on-board camera to gather information about its surroundings and identify objects.
– It will include facial recognition for authentication, similar to Apple’s Face ID, to enable users to make purchases.
– The speaker will also have the capability to listen to nearby conversations, according to the report.
– OpenAI is also working on other hardware like smart glasses and a smart lamp, with some reports suggesting hardware could arrive as soon as 2026.
A new report indicates that OpenAI is developing its first hardware product, a smart speaker with an integrated camera, which could launch as early as 2027. This device, created in partnership with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, is expected to be powered by ChatGPT and is reportedly the focus of a dedicated team of over 200 employees. The project represents a significant move by the AI leader into the competitive consumer hardware space, with a target price range between $200 and $300.
The speaker’s capabilities are described as highly advanced. Its onboard camera is designed to analyze the user’s environment, identifying objects on a table or in the room. More notably, it is said to include a facial recognition system akin to Apple’s Face ID, which would authenticate users for secure purchases directly through the device. The report also suggests the speaker could listen to nearby conversations, raising immediate questions about privacy and data handling.
This ambitious approach contrasts with the strategy of established players like Google. The search giant’s upcoming Google Home speaker refresh, expected to ship soon, is primarily framed as new hardware to showcase its upgraded Gemini AI experience, representing a more incremental update compared to OpenAI’s reportedly feature-rich vision.
Beyond the smart speaker, the same sources mention that OpenAI has additional hardware in the pipeline, including smart glasses and a smart lamp. Details on these products remain scarce, though some reports suggest other OpenAI hardware could arrive as soon as 2026. The development of a comprehensive hardware ecosystem signals OpenAI’s intent to embed its AI models more deeply into users’ daily lives, moving beyond software and APIs into tangible, interactive products.
(Source: 9to5Google)
