OpenAI's first device: screenless AI speaker that moves

OpenAI is developing its first hardware device, a mobile smart speaker without a screen that integrates AI capabilities directly into a home device. According to Bloomberg, the device is being pitched internally as a 'humanlike AI companion that lives in the home' and represents a departure from traditional smart speakers. Unlike conventional speakers focused on audio output and voice control, this device is designed with personality and the ability to proactively learn about its owner over time, drawing on access to personal digital information such as emails to deliver increasingly personalized service. The device is also engineered with mechanical elements that can move on their own—a detail that underscores OpenAI's ambition for the device to function as both a digital and physical manifestation of ChatGPT.

The product development has benefited from the expertise of former Apple engineers who played central roles in creating the iPhone and Mac, giving OpenAI access to hardware design and manufacturing knowledge. OpenAI has long indicated interest in launching a hardware product, with previous rumors suggesting a smartphone competitor to Apple. This smart speaker represents a more immediate consumer play and signals the company's broader push beyond software and AI models into physical devices that directly interact with users in their homes.

The announcement arrives amid significant legal conflict with Apple. Last week, Apple sued OpenAI, alleging the company stole its trade secrets. Apple stated that the allegations in the suit are merely 'the tip of the iceberg' and that additional misconduct may emerge during legal discovery. OpenAI has denied all wrongdoing. However, according to anonymous sources with knowledge of OpenAI's plans cited by Bloomberg, the company believes its new device 'veers significantly from anything Apple has on the market today' and is 'unlikely that it violates trade secrets' belonging to Apple.

OpenAI's hardware ambitions align with a broader wave of investor interest in consumer AI devices. Hark, an AI lab founded by Brett Adcock, raised an oversubscribed $700 million（約1100億円） Series A in May at a $6 billion（約9600億円） valuation to build what it calls 'personal intelligence'—proprietary AI models paired with custom hardware serving as a 'universal interface between humans and machines.' The capital flowing into this category reflects high expectations for AI-first consumer products, even as most have not yet shipped to market.

OpenAI's reported shift into consumer hardware marks a major strategic pivot after years of speculation about the company launching its own device. The company had previously been rumored to be developing a phone to compete with Apple, but the smart speaker represents a more immediate consumer hardware entry point. The involvement of former Apple hardware engineers suggests OpenAI is serious about industrial design and manufacturing—capabilities that are distinct from AI model development and signal the company's intent to build a complete consumer product.

The timing of this announcement, coming just days after Apple sued OpenAI for alleged trade-secret theft, creates immediate legal and reputational tension. However, OpenAI's internal framing that the device represents something materially different from Apple's existing product line may insulate it from the suit's core allegations. The broader hardware-AI convergence is evidenced by other companies like Hark, an AI lab that raised $700 million（約1100億円） at a $6 billion（約9600億円） valuation in May to build 'personal intelligence'—AI models paired with custom hardware. This suggests investor appetite is strong for AI-first consumer devices even before shipping, and OpenAI's entry positions it to capture a significant portion of that emerging market.

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