OpenAI's AI smart speaker may cost $300-$400, report says
Bloomberg reports OpenAI's upcoming smart speaker will be donut-shaped, made of high-quality metal, and cost between $300 and $400. Developed with Jony Ive's LoveFrom, the device is expected in 2027.
More details are emerging about OpenAI’s mysterious new hardware device, previously described as an AI-powered smart speaker that would serve as the "physical manifestation" of ChatGPT. According to Bloomberg, the device will be donut-shaped, designed so users can carry it around their home and place it in different spots, such as a bedside table or kitchen counter. It will be built from high-quality metal, have a premium look, and, in a puzzling detail, feature distinct moving parts.
The smart speaker could cost between $300 and $400 per unit, Bloomberg reports. By comparison, most of Amazon’s smart home speakers range in price from about $40 on the low end to $240 on the high end. Releasing a smart home device makes some sense for OpenAI, as it would further integrate ChatGPT into users’ lives. However, smart speakers historically have not always been profitable, and the market may be difficult to break into. The potentially high price point might not help matters.
The device is being developed in partnership with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by the famous former Apple developer Jony Ive. Bloomberg writes that the product will likely be released sometime in 2027. OpenAI’s entry into the hardware market has not been entirely smooth. Apple has sued the AI lab, accusing it of stealing trade secrets. OpenAI has denied any wrongdoing.
