OpenAI plans screenless AI speaker as first hardware; Apple lawsuit could delay 2027 launch

OpenAI is developing its first consumer hardware product: a portable, screenless smart speaker that the company internally describes as a "new type of home computer for the AI era," according to Bloomberg. The device sits at the intersection of smart home hub, voice assistant, and embodied AI—a concept that pushes beyond conventional speaker design.

The speaker's hardware architecture supports its role as an ambient companion. It features a camera and other sensors to understand the user's surroundings and context. Unlike traditional smart speakers, it has a rechargeable battery, allowing users to carry it from room to room. The speaker will handle smart home control, media playback, question-answering, message management, and full access to ChatGPT's capabilities. OpenAI's core innovation, however, lies in personality: the device is meant to become increasingly personalized and proactive as it learns its owner's patterns. It will anticipate needs, volunteer information, and access personal data such as emails—all while "feeling alive." To achieve this impression, the speaker includes mechanical parts that can move independently, creating a physical, responsive presence rather than a passive object awaiting commands. This design philosophy aligns with CEO Sam Altman's stated ambition to build a computer resembling the AI in the film "Her." The speaker runs on GPT-Live, an expanded version of ChatGPT Voice Mode introduced recently by OpenAI. GPT-Live can listen and speak simultaneously, allowing more natural back-and-forth conversation and reinforcing the illusion of human interaction.

OpenAI's timeline faces legal headwinds. The company plans to unveil the speaker later this year and release it in 2027. However, Apple filed a lawsuit last week alleging that OpenAI stole trade secrets. The suit specifically targets Tang Tan, OpenAI's chief hardware officer and co-founder of io Products, who previously led iPhone product design at Apple. Apple claims Tan orchestrated a campaign to obtain confidential information about future Apple products and that a former iPhone engineer hacked Apple's systems to retrieve technical presentations. Apple calls OpenAI's hardware ambitions "rotten at the core" and is seeking an injunction that could delay or block the launch. OpenAI denies the allegations, stating there is no merit to the lawsuit and asserting the device is fundamentally different from Apple products. The company emphasizes the importance of fair competition and employee freedom of choice. Apple has acknowledged that only discovery can determine whether OpenAI used its technology.

The speaker is merely the first installment of OpenAI's hardware strategy. The company's hardware division is developing approximately five products in total, reportedly including a portable device designed to replace a smartphone, a wearable pendant, and home robotics. This breadth positions OpenAI in direct competition with Apple, which is simultaneously preparing its own AI-focused home devices—a smart home command center with a 7-inch display and facial recognition, as well as versions with screens mounted on robotic arms and smart home security systems.

OpenAI's hardware ambitions mark a fundamental shift in how the company envisions AI's role in daily life. Rather than a tool summoned on demand, the speaker is positioned as a proactive companion—one that learns its owner's patterns, accesses personal data, and uses mechanical movement to cultivate emotional connection. This philosophy directly reflects CEO Sam Altman's stated goal of creating a "Her"-like computer, signaling that OpenAI sees the future of AI less as software and more as embodied presence.

The timing and scope reveal serious competitive intent. The speaker is explicitly the first of about five hardware projects, including a portable phone-replacement device, a wearable pendant, and home robotics. This breadth suggests OpenAI is not merely experimenting but building a hardware ecosystem. Significantly, this directly challenges Apple, which is preparing its own family of AI-focused home devices, including a smart home command center with a 7-inch display and facial recognition.

The Apple lawsuit introduces legal risk that could reshape the timeline. Apple's focus on Tang Tan—OpenAI's chief hardware officer and a former iPhone designer—raises the stakes beyond typical IP disputes. If the injunction succeeds, it could block or delay the 2027 launch. Even if OpenAI prevails, the discovery process may air sensitive details about how the company sources talent and designs hardware, exposing competitive friction between two of the most ambitious technology companies.