OpenAI Explores AI Smart Speaker, Glasses, Voice Recorder, and Wearable Pin in Partnership with Jony Ive

OpenAI is reportedly exploring the development of a range of AI-powered consumer devices, including a smart speaker without a display, wearable glasses, a digital voice recorder, and a compact AI pin, according to The Information. The report, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter, reveals that the company is working closely with Jony Ive, Apple’s former chief design officer, on the initiative. The first device, described as pocket-sized, screen-free, and contextually aware, is said to resemble a smart speaker without a visual interface. This aligns with comments made by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in May, who outlined his vision for a “family of devices” emerging from the collaboration with Ive’s design firm, IO. While Altman previously stated that the first product would not be glasses, the new reports suggest that smart eyewear is in development as a follow-up. The company has already secured a manufacturing contract with Luxshare, a major assembler of iPhones and AirPods, and has approached Goertek—another key supplier for Apple’s products—about providing components such as speaker modules. This marks a significant move into Apple’s established supply chain network in China, where both companies are known for their precision manufacturing. Production timelines point to a potential launch window in late 2026 or early 2027 for the initial devices. Notably, an in-ear device previously discussed in earlier reports appears to be absent from the current product lineup, which instead includes the AI pin—a surprising addition given Ive’s past skepticism toward body-worn devices and his public criticism of the Humane AI Pin. The partnership has also triggered a talent shift, with several Apple employees involved in consumer hardware development reportedly leaving for OpenAI. Tang Tan, OpenAI’s current chief hardware officer and a former Apple product design lead, has been actively recruiting talent, promising a more collaborative, less bureaucratic environment. According to a source familiar with the outreach, Tang has told potential hires that OpenAI offers a faster, more agile path to innovation. Meanwhile, Apple reportedly canceled a planned meeting with its China-based supply chain teams last month, reportedly due to concerns that executives would be distracted from their duties at the company’s US headquarters—especially amid fears of defections to OpenAI. The move underscores the growing competition for top engineering and design talent in the race to bring AI devices to market.