OpenAI Developing Premium Smart Speaker Projected to Cost $300 to $400

OpenAI’s hardware ambitions are taking a distinctive physical shape. According to Bloomberg, the company’s long-rumoured first gadget is essentially a smart speaker without a display that measures roughly the size of a hockey puck and sports a doughnut-like form factor. The project is spearheaded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, whose startup io was acquired by OpenAI last year.

Pricing and Portability: A High-End Portable Assistant

The price tag for OpenAI’s inaugural hardware product is projected to sit comfortably above standard smart home speakers. Engadget reports that the device might retail for $300 to $400. For comparison, mainstream smart home speakers range widely in price, placing OpenAI’s hardware at the premium end of the market.

To justify the cost, the device relies on upscale construction materials. SiliconANGLE reports that the speaker will feature a premium look crafted from high-quality metal, distinguishing it from the plastic-heavy casings typical of Amazon Echo or Google Nest devices. The battery-powered unit is engineered to be easy to carry around with one hand, allowing users to move it effortlessly from room to room much like Amazon’s discontinued Tap speaker.

Moving Parts and Advanced AI Interaction

Unlike stationary smart speakers, OpenAI’s device incorporates mechanical motion. Reporting indicates that the hardware will have a unique look, complete with moving parts designed to give it distinct personality traits and signal when it is actively responding to a user. Lights and a camera system round out the sensor suite, enabling the device to monitor its environment and feed contextual data back to the AI models.

Under the hood, the speaker connects directly to advanced artificial intelligence models. MobileSyrup notes that the hardware features advanced AI-powered humanlike interactivity. According to Bloomberg, the interface will function similarly to the voice modes found on smartphone applications but utilize far more sophisticated backend models.

Legal Friction and the Road to a 2027 Launch

The hardware push unfolds against a backdrop of legal friction with Apple. Apple filed a trade secrets lawsuit alleging that OpenAI misled an Apple supplier into developing metal finishing techniques similar to those used by Apple—leveraging expertise brought over by Jony Ive’s former design team.

OpenAI has pushed back against the litigation. In recent legal filings, the company argued that it is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple, noting that the portable hockey puck speaker is not something Apple has come close to launching. Apple’s own reported home hardware efforts include a square display hub and a tabletop robot featuring a motorized arm, but those devices carry different form factors and timelines.

Despite the ongoing court battle, OpenAI intends to proceed with its rollout. SiliconANGLE reports that the company is planning a major product reveal later this year, setting the stage for a commercial launch in early 2027 as the first entry in a planned family of AI hardware devices.