OpenAI Is Building AI Hardware

OpenAI isn’t just building models anymore.

It’s building devices.

According to a report from The Information, OpenAI now has more than 200 employees working on a family of AI-powered hardware products. The lineup could include a smart speaker, smart glasses, and even a smart lamp.

The first product expected to launch? A smart speaker.

What We Know So Far

• Expected price: $200–$300

• Earliest shipping timeline: February 2027

• Equipped with a camera to understand users and their surroundings

Unlike traditional smart speakers, this device is reportedly designed to be deeply contextual — using visual awareness to enhance AI interactions.

That suggests something more ambitious than today’s voice assistants.

Why This Matters

This signals OpenAI’s move from software layer to physical interface.

If ChatGPT lives inside a dedicated device — rather than just an app — OpenAI controls the full user experience: hardware, AI layer, and ecosystem.

It also puts OpenAI in more direct competition with:

• Amazon (Alexa devices)

• Apple (HomePod ecosystem)

• Google (Nest devices)

But there’s a twist.

A camera-enabled AI speaker raises privacy questions. Always-on context awareness may improve personalization — but it also increases surveillance concerns.

The Bigger Play

The real story isn’t the speaker.

It’s the hardware layer.

If OpenAI successfully ships AI-native devices, it shifts from being a platform to becoming a consumer tech company. And that changes its strategic position entirely.

AI won’t just live in your browser.

It might sit on your desk, watch your room, and respond in real time.

The AI hardware race is quietly beginning.