OpenAI's First Hardware Is a Camera Smart Speaker at $200-$300 — Jony Ive's Design, Launching 2027

Q: What Else OpenAI Might Build

The smart speaker is just the start. The Information reports that OpenAI is "possibly" working on: Smart glasses — Likely competing with Meta's Ray-Ban AI glasses, though OpenAI's version may not hit mass production until 2028. A smart lamp — Prototypes exist, but it's "unclear" if the lamp will ever be commercially released. Apple is reportedly also working on a smart lamp.

By Jaspal February 20, 2026 Updated: February 20, 2026

The AI hardware race just got a lot more concrete. According to a report by The Information, OpenAI's first hardware product will be a smart speaker with a built-in camera, priced at approximately $200 to $300. The device is expected to be the first fruit of OpenAI's $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive's hardware company last May.

What OpenAI's Smart Speaker Can Do

This isn't your typical Alexa or Google Home. OpenAI's smart speaker is described as a significantly more capable device:

Camera with vision — The device can reportedly recognise "items on a nearby table or conversations people are having in the vicinity," giving it environmental awareness far beyond current voice assistants.
Facial recognition for purchases — The speaker will have a Face ID-like facial recognition system that allows people to buy things through it, similar to how Apple Pay works on iPhone.
ChatGPT-powered — Naturally, the device will be deeply integrated with OpenAI's ChatGPT, giving it access to the most advanced conversational AI on the market.

The Jony Ive Connection

The device is being designed under Jony Ive, the legendary Apple designer who shaped the iPhone, iMac, and AirPods. OpenAI acquired his design company, io, in a deal worth nearly $6.5 billion. It is one of the largest acquisitions in AI hardware history, and the stakes for the product to deliver are enormous.

Previous reports have already clarified that the first device won't be a wearable — addressing early speculation about an AI-powered personal accessory. Instead, it appears to be a home device designed to sit on a table or counter.

Timeline: Not Before March 2027

Those hoping for a 2026 launch will need to wait. OpenAI's first hardware product won't reach customers earlier than March 2027. Given the complexity of building a new hardware platform from scratch — chipsets, operating system, supply chain, manufacturing, retail — a 2027 launch is aggressive but believable.

What Else OpenAI Might Build

The smart speaker is just the start. The Information reports that OpenAI is "possibly" working on:

Smart glasses — Likely competing with Meta's Ray-Ban AI glasses, though OpenAI's version may not hit mass production until 2028.
A smart lamp — Prototypes exist, but it's "unclear" if the lamp will ever be commercially released. Apple is reportedly also working on a smart lamp.

The AI Hardware Race: Who's Building What

OpenAI is entering a market that is rapidly getting crowded:

Apple is reportedly developing smart glasses, an AI-powered pendant, and AirPods with built-in cameras.
Meta has already shipped Ray-Ban smart glasses with Meta AI, and recently added facial recognition capabilities that sparked significant privacy debate.
Amazon continues to evolve Alexa with AI, while Google has Gemini-powered home devices in the works.

OpenAI's play is to own the ambient AI layer in the home — a space where ChatGPT's capabilities give it a significant intelligence edge over competitors.

The Bottom Line

The AI hardware race is heating up. OpenAI: camera smart speaker + facial recognition ($200-$300, 2027). Apple: smart glasses, AI pendant, AirPods with cameras. Meta: smart glasses with facial recognition. Jony Ive is designing OpenAI's. The AI assistant is leaving the phone — and moving into your living room.