OpenAI will unveil its first consumer hardware device in the second half of 2026, marking the company's expansion from AI software into physical products designed around voice-first interfaces. Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane confirmed the timeline Monday at Axios House Davos, describing devices as "among the big coming attractions for OpenAI in 2026" while cautioning that development schedules remain flexible and could shift as work progresses.
The hardware initiative stems from OpenAI's $6.5 billion acquisition of Io in May 2025, the design firm founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive alongside former Apple engineers Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, and Tang Tan. Dozens of Io engineers, software developers, and experts joined OpenAI as part of the transaction, with LoveFrom design studio—Ive's post-Apple creative agency—working intimately with OpenAI's research, engineering, and product teams on the hardware roadmap.
CEO Sam Altman has described the forthcoming device as "shockingly simple" and more "peaceful" than smartphones, suggesting a departure from screen-based computing toward ambient intelligence. Industry speculation centers on multiple form factors including AI-powered earbuds codenamed "Sweetpea" and a pen-like device internally called "Gumdrop." Leaked details from consumer electronics blogger Smart Pikachu on January 12 described Sweetpea as two pill-shaped metallic gadgets housed in an egg-shaped case designed to be worn behind the ear, potentially competing with Apple AirPods.
Manufacturing plans reportedly involve Foxconn producing five devices by fourth quarter 2028, with initial production potentially located in Vietnam or the United States rather than China due to supply chain concerns. Foxconn already serves as OpenAI's primary manufacturing and engineering partner, co-designing AI data centers and overseeing their deployment, making the relationship a natural extension into consumer electronics production.
Recent hiring signals accelerating development. Janum Trivedi, a respected engineer and interface designer who previously built key iPadOS features at Apple, recently joined the OpenAI and LoveFrom team working on Io products. His expertise in touch interfaces and interaction design suggests the hardware may incorporate novel input methods beyond traditional screens and buttons, aligning with Altman's vision of screenless devices operating through ambient intelligence with spatial awareness.
The hardware strategy reflects broader industry conviction that audio represents the future computing interface. OpenAI is upgrading its audio models for early 2026 release, targeting more natural conversation handling, interruption management resembling actual human dialogue, and duplex communication where the AI speaks while users talk. These capabilities would enable always-present AI companions providing continuous contextual assistance through voice interaction rather than requiring users to open apps or type prompts.
Lehane stopped short of confirming commercial availability in 2026, suggesting the second-half unveiling may constitute a formal product announcement rather than immediate retail launch. Industry expectations point to 2027 as a more realistic shipping window given the complexity of manufacturing physical products at scale. The distinction matters for investors and market expectations, as demonstrating working prototypes differs substantially from delivering production units to consumers.
OpenAI positions devices as one of its major strategic themes for 2026 alongside continued software development. The move places the company alongside tech giants and startups experimenting with AI-native hardware, from Meta's smart glasses to startup failures like Humane's AI Pin that burned through hundreds of millions before becoming a cautionary tale. Success would give OpenAI unprecedented control over user experience from sensors and microphones through inference and interaction, bypassing app stores and platform gatekeepers.
The hardware ambitions align with OpenAI's trajectory emphasizing consumer products alongside enterprise and developer offerings. The company exceeded $20 billion revenue in 2025, growing over 230 percent compared to 2024, while computing power scaled to 1.9 gigawatts. Leadership framed 2026 strategy as shifting toward pragmatic adoption, bridging the gap between AI capabilities and user practical needs despite infrastructure investments reaching approximately $140 billion.
Lehane's cautious language acknowledges challenges bringing new product categories to market, particularly ones redefining human-computer interaction. "We are looking at something in the latter part" of 2026, he stated, noting "we will see how things advance." If timelines hold, 2026 could mark OpenAI's most significant strategic pivot, testing whether AI can move beyond screens, apps, and keyboards into something more ambient, intuitive, and woven into daily life.
