OpenAI、初のハードウェア「Codex Micro」を230ドルで発売

On July 15, OpenAI announced the Codex Micro, its first hardware product. The device is a customizable keyboard built in partnership with keyboard maker Work Louder, designed specifically to enhance the experience of using the Codex code editor. The keyboard carries a price tag of $230 (approximately ¥37,000) and is available for purchase directly on OpenAI's website.

The Codex Micro incorporates several programmable features tailored for developers. It includes LED-lit keys that can be customized, a rotary dial that can be programmed, slots for different switch types, and the ability to reassign key functions. The keyboard also comes with 32 additional key caps, allowing users to further personalize their setup based on their coding workflow and preferences. Overall, the device is designed with customization as a core concept, giving developers the flexibility to adapt the hardware to their specific needs.

Work Louder's website lists the Codex Micro as available with limited quantity. OpenAI was careful to note that this keyboard hardware is entirely separate from a different AI device that the company is developing — one that has become the subject of legal dispute. Apple has filed suit against OpenAI, alleging that OpenAI improperly obtained confidential information and failed to secure Apple's agreement regarding the separate hardware device. By explicitly distinguishing the Codex Micro from that contested AI device, OpenAI made clear that its first consumer hardware product is a focused peripheral for developers, not the AI hardware at the center of the Apple lawsuit.

OpenAI's move into hardware through the Codex Micro represents an expansion beyond its core software and AI services. The collaboration with Work Louder, an established keyboard manufacturer, allowed OpenAI to integrate customizable features such as programmable keys, rotary dials, LED lighting, and additional key caps — all aimed at developers who work with the Codex code editor. The $230 price point positions it as a premium peripheral for a specific user base rather than a mass-market product.

The timing and framing of this announcement is notable given the broader context. OpenAI explicitly separated the Codex Micro from a different hardware device that is currently under legal dispute with Apple, suggesting that Apple's litigation concerns a distinct AI device still in development. By clarifying this distinction upfront, OpenAI appears to be managing the narrative around its hardware ambitions amid ongoing legal scrutiny.