OpenAI is building a hockey puck-sized doughnut-shaped smart speaker without a display, costing over $300, for release in 2027.
The device features moving parts for personality and is designed as an AI-first home computer to compete with Amazon and Google's smart speakers.
What happened
OpenAI is developing a doughnut-shaped smart speaker roughly the size of a hockey puck, slated for release in 2027, with moving parts designed to give it personality and a price tag exceeding $300.
Why it matters
The device positions OpenAI to enter the smart speaker market, currently dominated by Amazon and Google, with an AI-first design intended to set it apart from existing competitors and give users a new way to interact with AI at home.
What to watch
The product is scheduled for 2027 release; it will have no display and be designed for one-handed portability around the home.
OpenAI is developing a hardware device that represents a new direction for the company's product strategy. The device, scheduled for release in 2027, will take the form of a doughnut-shaped smart speaker approximately the size of a hockey puck. Unlike traditional smart speakers from Amazon and Google, it will lack a display entirely, emphasizing portability and the ability to be carried around the home with one hand. The design includes moving parts intended to give the device personality and a distinctive presence in users' homes. The product is positioned as an AI-first computer designed to help users accomplish tasks, marking OpenAI's explicit entry into the hardware category that has been dominated by Amazon's Echo products and Google's Nest lineup. The device is expected to cost more than $300, placing it in the premium segment of the smart speaker market. According to people familiar with the project who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the work, OpenAI believes this design approach will help the new device stand out from the current smart speaker category and appeal to users seeking a fresh take on how AI can integrate into their homes.
OpenAI's move into the smart speaker category marks a significant shift in how the company is commercializing its AI technology. Rather than relying solely on software and cloud-based services, the company is now designing a hardware product intended to bring AI capabilities directly into users' homes. The timing—a 2027 release—suggests OpenAI is taking a deliberate approach to product development, moving beyond chatbots and text-based interfaces to create a physical form factor that can stand out in a market currently controlled by Amazon and Google's established ecosystems. The emphasis on design elements such as moving parts and a distinctive doughnut shape indicates OpenAI recognizes that differentiation in the smart speaker space requires more than software; it needs physical and aesthetic appeal to justify a price point exceeding $300, which places it above many current smart speakers.
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