이미지: TechCrunch AI
Summary
- OpenAI plans to launch a donut-shaped AI smart speaker in 2027.
- The expected price is $300 to $400, higher than Amazon's premium smart speaker model ($240).
- The company is collaborating with Jony Ive's design studio LoveFrom, and Apple's trade secret theft lawsuit could affect the timeline.
Donut-shaped ChatGPT hardware
OpenAI is set to release its first smart home hardware device. According to a Bloomberg report, the device is designed in a donut shape, roughly the size of a hockey puck. It has no screen but includes a microphone, speaker, camera system, lighting, and separate moving parts. Because it runs on battery power, it's designed to be moved anywhere in the home—next to the living room sofa, on a bedside table, or on the kitchen counter.
According to sources, the device is made of premium metal and aims for a premium overall look. OpenAI has reportedly described the device as "a physical embodiment of ChatGPT." The company is said to plan additional hardware products following this speaker.
Collaboration with Jony Ive, expected price of $300–$400
The device is being developed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive. Bloomberg reported the launch is expected in 2027.
The price is expected to be in the $300–$400 range. For comparison, Amazon's smart speaker lineup ranges from about $40 for the entry-level model to about $240 for the top-tier model. OpenAI's device is expected to be priced considerably higher than that.
How is it different from existing smart speakers
Unlike current smart speakers on the market, which focus mainly on simple command processing, OpenAI's device is reportedly designed to remember conversations and adapt to individual users. Its basic operation is said to resemble ChatGPT's current voice mode, but the goal is to go beyond simple voice responses toward something that feels more alive.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has long expressed a desire to create an experience like the AI assistant in the film "Her." A smart-speaker-type device makes strategic sense as a way to more deeply integrate ChatGPT into users' daily lives.
Apple's lawsuit, a variable for the timeline
OpenAI's hardware push has not been without obstacles. Apple has filed a lawsuit alleging that OpenAI poached more than 400 employees and stole hardware-related trade secrets. OpenAI denies the allegations, maintaining that it did not infringe on Apple's intellectual property.
Even if the lawsuit is eventually dismissed, the ongoing legal battle could delay the development timeline. TechCrunch noted that the smart speaker market has historically been difficult to turn profitable, and the device's relatively high expected price could add to the burden of entering the market.
