OpenAI's Groundbreaking AI Device Set for Late 2026 Debut

OpenAI is officially “on track” to unveil its much rumoured first hardware product in the second half of 2026. Speaking at Axios House Davos, OpenAI Policy chief Chris Lehane confirmed that the ChatGPT-maker is aiming for a late-2026 reveal of the ‘secret’ device, which is being developed in collaboration with legendary former Apple design chief Jony Ive. “We are looking at something in the latter part [of 2026]," Lehane told Axios, noting that while this is the most likely timeline, “we will see how things advance.” Lehane, however, stopped short of committing to a launch date and even spilling the beans on what the product might be. Jony Ive hires another former Apple employee to expand team As the hardware timeline comes closer, the design team, which is a joint venture between OpenAI and Ive’s firm, LoveFrom, internally referred to as the "io" team, has bolstered its ranks with another high-profile Apple veteran. Engineer and interface designer Janum Trivedi has joined the team to work on “io products.” At Apple, Trivedi was a key figure behind the evolution of iPadOS, credited with building Split View, iPad Pointer Gestures, and Multitasking Drag & Drop. He worked at AirBnb for two years on concept prototyping for the design and executive leadership teams. What is OpenAI’s AI hardware OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously teased that the upcoming device will represent a radical departure from current mobile technology. Altman has described the hardware as “peaceful” and suggested that users will be “shocked” by its simplicity. Multiple reports have suggested that the AI device is expected to be a small, possibly wearable form factor with no traditional screen and it can be controlled almost entirely through voice and sound. Speculations are rife that it may be a pin, an earpiece or a new category of wearable entirely. End of Article