OpenAI's first hardware device will be a smart speaker, and it is set to ship in 2027, according to a Bloomberg report. The device is donut-shaped and roughly the size of a hockey puck, designed to be small enough to carry in one hand. It is priced above $300, a premium position for a product that has no screen.
The speaker is co-designed by Jony Ive's studio LoveFrom, a collaboration that signals a strong focus on design. Ive, the former Apple design chief, brings decades of hardware expertise to OpenAI's first step into physical products. The device runs on battery power and includes microphones, a camera system, and lights that indicate when the device is listening.
A Device Built to Feel Alive
The speaker's most distinctive feature is its moving parts. These parts move on their own to signal when the device is responding or engaging with the user. The goal of the moving parts is to make the device feel more alive than stationary alternatives. That design choice could help the speaker stand out in a crowded market of voice assistants.
OpenAI wants to position the speaker as an AI computer that helps users in daily life and adapts to them over time. The company plans to offer a whole family of devices long-term, with this speaker as the first entry. The article was published on Aug 7, 2026, and it presents the speaker as a significant step for OpenAI into hardware.
Legal Trouble From Apple
Apple is suing OpenAI over allegedly stolen trade secrets related to metalworking. The lawsuit is separate from the speaker development, but it adds a legal challenge to OpenAI's hardware ambitions. OpenAI denies the claims and has filed to dismiss the lawsuit.
The metalworking trade secrets at issue could relate to manufacturing techniques for the speaker's moving parts, though the report does not confirm that connection. Apple's legal action comes as OpenAI moves deeper into consumer hardware, a space Apple has long dominated.
Design Partnership With Jony Ive
Stay ahead of the AI curve
The most important updates, news, and content — delivered weekly.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The collaboration with LoveFrom is a key part of the speaker's identity. Ive's studio is known for meticulous attention to detail and minimalist aesthetics. The donut shape and hockey-puck size suggest a compact, unobtrusive design that could sit comfortably on a desk or shelf.
The moving parts are highlighted as a key feature to differentiate from existing devices. Most smart speakers rely on lights or sounds to indicate activity, but OpenAI's device adds physical motion. That motion could make interactions feel more natural and human.
Pricing and Positioning
The price above $300 suggests a premium positioning for the device. That price point puts it well above typical smart speakers, which often sell for under $100. The camera system and moving parts likely justify the higher cost, along with the AI capabilities that OpenAI is known for.
The speaker is screenless, which means all interaction happens through voice, sound, and motion. The lights that indicate when the device is listening provide a visual cue without a display. Battery power makes the device portable, so users can carry it from room to room.
What Comes Next
OpenAI's entry into hardware is a major shift for a company best known for software and AI models. The speaker is expected to ship in 2027, giving the company time to refine the design and resolve the legal dispute with Apple. The family of devices that OpenAI plans could expand beyond speakers into other form factors.
The report from Bloomberg provides the first detailed look at the device, but OpenAI has not confirmed the specifications. The moving parts, the camera system, and the design partnership with Ive all point to a product that aims to feel different from anything on the market. Whether it can deliver on that promise remains to be seen.