OpenAI and Ive’s startup, io, have remained tight-lipped about the hardware project. But excitement has been mounting ever since OpenAI acquired io in May in a $6.4 billion stock deal and announced plans to develop a next-generation AI device.

Ive is leading the design effort, raising hopes that the product will carry the spirit of Apple while serving OpenAI’s bold vision for artificial intelligence.

Both companies have withheld further details, deepening the mystery. Ive said the device may be unveiled within two years - or possibly sooner - emphasizing the unpredictable nature of hardware development.

Asked about the product’s form or function, Altman declined to share specifics. However, he described the goal as creating a sense of “serenity” - a direct contrast to smartphones, which he likened to “walking through Times Square” with its constant noise and information overload.

According to Altman, the AI device of the future should work quietly in the background for extended periods, filtering information and only alerting users when absolutely necessary. He imagined a device that “knows everything you’ve ever thought, read, or said.”

Big Tech is watching OpenAI’s hardware plans closely

So far, Amazon, Google, and Meta have all released AI-focused products - from smart speakers to AR glasses - but none has significantly disrupted the hardware market or redefined how people interact with AI.

If OpenAI - the maker of ChatGPT, the world’s most-used chatbot - launches a successful AI device, it could break that deadlock and pose a direct challenge to Apple.

Notably, Apple has yet to debut any hardware designed specifically for AI. Even efforts to upgrade Siri - its 13-year-old voice assistant - have hit delays.

In March, Apple postponed Siri’s major overhaul until 2026, raising concerns about its pace in the AI race.

Against this backdrop, an AI device “made by OpenAI” could put serious pressure on the Apple ecosystem, especially with Jony Ive - the man who shaped the iPhone and other Apple icons - at the helm of its design.

OpenAI and Foxconn: Strategic moves ahead?

Last week, OpenAI announced a partnership with Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and a key Apple supplier.

The agreement, for now, focuses on building AI infrastructure rather than mass-producing devices.

Still, teaming up with a manufacturer of Foxconn’s scale has led analysts to believe OpenAI is laying the groundwork for larger hardware ambitions in the future.

Hai Phong