OpenAI unveils first hardware device in late 2026
OpenAI will showcase its first consumer hardware in the second half of 2026, marking the company’s expansion beyond software. Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, confirmed the timeline at Axios House Davos on January 20, describing “devices” as one of the company’s major releases this year.
Lehane avoided specific details but emphasized that OpenAI is “on track” for a late 2026 unveiling. He didn’t commit to actual sales beginning in 2026, noting that timing “will see how things advance.”
The device is being developed by io Products, the design firm co-founded by former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive. OpenAI acquired the company for $6.5 billion in May 2025, bringing Ive and his 55-person team in-house to lead hardware strategy.
According to leaked reports from Chinese tech blogger @zhihuipikachu, the device—codenamed “Sweetpea”—resembles an audio wearable designed to compete with AirPods. The leak describes two pill-shaped metallic pieces housed in an egg-shaped case, worn behind the ear rather than inside it. Foxconn will handle manufacturing, likely with production moving from China to Vietnam or the U.S. due to export control concerns.
CEO Sam Altman previously described the prototype as “simple, beautiful and playful,” positioning it as a screenless device that filters digital noise through ambient intelligence and voice interaction rather than traditional touch interfaces.
OpenAI has continued hiring former Apple designers and engineers, including Janum Trivedi (ex-iPadOS interface designer) who joined the io Products team in recent months. The move signals accelerating development as the company transitions from concept to production.
Industry observers expect the 2026 announcement to be an unveiling rather than immediate retail availability, with actual sales potentially delayed until 2027 depending on manufacturing readiness and regulatory approvals.
