OpenAI’s ChatGPT Smart Speaker May Feature a Camera
▼ Summary
– OpenAI’s first hardware product will be a smart speaker with a camera, priced between $200 and $300, capable of recognizing objects and conversations.
– The device will feature facial recognition for purchases, and its release is not expected before March 2027.
– OpenAI acquired Jony Ive’s hardware company for nearly $6.5 billion, signaling its entry into the competitive AI hardware market.
– The company is also reportedly exploring other devices, such as smart glasses and a smart lamp, though these plans are in early stages.
– Major tech companies like Apple are also developing AI gadgets, including smart glasses and AI-powered wearables.
OpenAI is reportedly preparing to enter the consumer hardware market with its first major product: a smart speaker equipped with a camera. This device, expected to launch with a price tag between $200 and $300, aims to bring advanced AI capabilities directly into the home. According to sources, the speaker will possess sophisticated visual recognition, allowing it to identify objects in a room and even understand conversations happening nearby. A key feature is said to be a facial recognition system similar to Face ID, which could enable personalized interactions and secure purchasing directly through the device.
The development follows OpenAI’s significant acquisition of a hardware design firm led by Jony Ive last year, a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion. This strategic move signaled the AI lab’s serious ambitions in physical product design. While details have been sparse, it has been confirmed that the initial product will not be a wearable and is not slated for a consumer release before March 2027. This timeline places OpenAI in a growing field of companies developing dedicated AI hardware, competing with efforts from tech giants like Apple, which is rumored to be working on smart glasses, an AI pendant, and camera-equipped AirPods.
Beyond the smart speaker, OpenAI’s hardware exploration may extend to other form factors. The company is “possibly” working on smart glasses and a smart lamp, though these projects appear to be in much earlier stages of development. Reports suggest the glasses might not reach mass production until 2028, and while prototypes for a smart lamp exist, it remains unclear if they will ever be released to the public. This indicates that OpenAI’s hardware roadmap is still being defined, with the camera-enabled smart speaker likely serving as the flagship entry point into this new product category.
(Source: The Verge)
