OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced last Friday that the first samples of hardware powered by artificial intelligence have been completed, as reported by CNBC, citing video materials published by Emerson Collective. The executive highly praised the achieved results but decided not to delve into the technical specifics of these gadgets. In May, OpenAI acquired the burgeoning io venture, founded by former Apple lead designer Jony Ive, for an estimated value of $6.4 billion (in stock), and also announced its intentions to develop innovative AI-powered devices. Ive took charge of the design aspect of this project. Since the official announcement of the merger, practically no information about the progress of the work has been made public by either party. Jonathan Ive predicts that the presentation of this device will take place within two years at the latest. He emphasizes that designing completely new hardware is a process full of unpredictability, especially within large corporations where top management prefers stability and is reluctant towards situations of uncertainty. Altman refrained from revealing specifics of what exactly OpenAI is developing. Nevertheless, he stressed that the company’s goal is to create a less intrusive alternative to modern smartphones. He compared interacting with a smartphone to being in Times Square, where constant stimuli aggressively compete for the user’s attention. According to him, the OpenAI device will be aware of everything a person has ever thought about, studied, or said, will be able to solve tasks over a long period, filter out unnecessary information, and know exactly when to notify the owner. Previously, major American technology conglomerates had introduced a number of new products with AI functionality, including smart glasses and audio systems, but they failed to gain widespread popularity among mass consumers. In September 2025, The Information reported that OpenAI was considering launching a display-less smart speaker, as well as glasses or a voice recorder augmented with artificial intelligence capabilities.
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