OpenAI reportedly developing smart speaker priced over $300

OpenAI is making a bold pivot from software to hardware with a device that is as unconventional as it is ambitious. Far from a simple voice assistant, the company is developing a "doughnut-shaped," battery-powered smart speaker . Priced between $300 and $400, this screenless device aims to be the "physical manifestation of ChatGPT," designed to be a proactive companion that lives in your home . The project is a collaboration with LoveFrom, the design studio of legendary former Apple designer Jony Ive, but the ambitious 2027 launch timeline is now clouded by a legal battle with Apple over trade secret allegations .

A New Kind of AI Computer

Design and Form Factor: A Premium "Doughnut"

The device’s physical design is a significant departure from typical smart speakers. It is described as being roughly the size of a hockey puck with a "doughnut" or ring-shaped form factor . Its construction will reportedly feature "high-quality metal" and a "premium look," underscoring a high-end design philosophy befitting a $300-$400 price point . The portability is a key feature; it will be battery-powered to allow users to easily carry it from room to room, functioning in different positions, whether on a bedside table or kitchen counter .

The "Personality" Feature: Moving Parts and Proactivity

What truly sets this device apart is its focus on simulating life. The product will feature distinct "moving parts" that move on their own to indicate when it is responding or interacting with the user . This design choice is intended to give the device "personality," making it feel like a "humanlike AI companion that lives in the home" rather than an inert object . The internal goal is to create a device people want to "touch, lick or bite," a visceral reaction to a "jaw-droppingly good" design .

Features and Functionality: More Than a Speaker

Internally, OpenAI reportedly refers to the device as a "new kind of computer," not a speaker . Its core interface will be a more advanced version of GPT-Live, OpenAI's full-duplex voice mode, allowing for natural, real-time conversations that can be interrupted mid-sentence . The device will feature a camera system and environmental sensors to "read the room," feeding it context about the user's surroundings . This enables a proactive experience where the device can anticipate needs by drawing on personal information like emails and habits to offer relevant information before it is even requested . It will also handle standard smart home duties like controlling appliances and playing music .

The Jony Ive Partnership and the Apple Lawsuit

A $6.5 Billion Talent Acquisition

The device is the first fruit of OpenAI’s acquisition of Jony Ive’s hardware startup, io Products, for a reported $6.5 billion . This brought Ive and his team of industrial designers, including former Apple head of industrial design Evans Hankey, into the OpenAI fold to help craft the product lineup . The move has also been a significant talent raid on Apple, with OpenAI reportedly hiring over 400 former Apple employees across various hardware disciplines .

Legal Hurdles and the Fight for its Future

This hiring spree has led Apple to sue OpenAI, accusing the AI lab of stealing trade secrets to develop its hardware . Apple has claimed that OpenAI misled one of its suppliers to replicate a proprietary metal finishing technique . OpenAI has denied the allegations, stating its speaker "veers significantly" from anything Apple currently sells .

The legal action is not trivial. Apple is seeking a court injunction that, if granted, could prevent OpenAI from releasing its hardware . The outcome of this case is a major variable for the device's future. OpenAI is aiming to unveil the device later this year ahead of a 2027 commercial launch, but this timeline is now contingent on the courtroom .