Overview
- Bloomberg reported Tuesday that OpenAI is developing a movable, screenless smart speaker meant to act as a home AI companion and that the company aims to unveil the device later this year with a commercial release targeted for 2027.
- The reported design includes a camera, multiple sensors, a rechargeable battery for room‑to‑room portability, and mechanical parts that can move to create a lifelike presence.
- Interactions are said to run on OpenAI’s newer voice models, including GPT‑Live, allowing the speaker to play media, control smart home devices, answer questions, and handle messages.
- OpenAI plans for the device to learn users over time by drawing on personal data such as emails to become proactive and personalized, a choice that raises clear privacy and trust questions for consumers and regulators.
- The project builds on OpenAI’s 2025 acquisition of io Products and collaboration with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom plus many former Apple engineers, and Apple has filed a trade‑secrets lawsuit that OpenAI denies and that could trigger discovery, an injunction, or delays to the launch.