Imagine talking to ChatGPT through a smart speaker that has no screen, but uses a camera to look at your room and mechanical parts that move by themselves. This is the device OpenAI is rumored to be building for its first entry into hardware.
According to a Bloomberg report, this speaker will let users talk with ChatGPT using GPT-Live, OpenAI's new advanced voice system. Instead of a screen, it will use a camera and special sensors to "see" and understand the environment around it. The speaker will also have a rechargeable battery, which means you can carry it around with you. It is designed to play music, answer questions, control smart home devices, and reply to messages.
To make the device feel more human, it will have mechanical parts that can move on their own. OpenAI is reportedly working with Jony Ive, the famous former Apple designer, to create this speaker and four other hardware devices. This partnership follows OpenAI's acquisition of Ive's design company, io Products, for nearly $6.5 billion.
However, the project is starting amid some legal tension. Apple recently sued OpenAI, accusing the company of stealing its hardware secrets. OpenAI has responded, stating that it has seen no evidence to support Apple's claims.
The smart speaker is expected to launch in 2027. In the meantime, OpenAI is also working on a smaller gadget called the Codex Micro, which is planned for release much sooner.