OpenAI's ChatGPT Speaker Will Be Hockey Puck-Sized and Cost Over $300
OpenAI’s next hardware effort is a handheld‑sized smart speaker, roughly the dimensions of a hockey puck, built from a premium metal alloy and powered by an internal battery. The device has no screen but includes speaker grilles, multiple microphones, a camera array and environmental sensors that let it react to the room. Visual cues—lights for listening and kinetic elements that move when it speaks—are meant to give it a “personality.” Pricing is set between $300 and $400, and the product is slated for a limited release later this year, with a broader rollout planned for 2027. Design work is being overseen by Jony Ive, whose io startup OpenAI acquired last year, bringing former Apple designers into the fold. Apple has sued OpenAI, alleging the startup stole Apple’s metal‑finishing process, a claim OpenAI rebuts by emphasizing the device’s distinct form factor and functionality.
The launch signals OpenAI’s shift from pure software into consumer hardware, a move that pits it directly against entrenched smart‑speaker players such as Amazon Echo, Google Nest, and Apple’s HomePod line. Apple’s own roadmap includes a display‑based home hub expected this year and a tabletop robot slated for 2027, both of which differ in form but share the goal of integrating conversational AI into everyday objects. By opting for a battery‑operated, portable speaker, OpenAI attempts to carve a niche that Apple’s corded HomePod mini cannot fill, while also sidestepping the display‑centric design Apple favors. The emphasis on kinetic feedback and on‑device sensing reflects a broader industry push to make AI interactions feel more tangible and context‑aware.
If OpenAI can deliver reliable voice performance, acceptable battery life, and robust privacy safeguards—especially given the inclusion of a camera—its speaker could attract early adopters willing to pay a premium for a truly mobile AI companion. However, the ongoing litigation with Apple could delay production or force design compromises, and the $300‑$400 price may limit mass‑market appeal compared with cheaper alternatives. Watch for OpenAI’s official unveiling timeline, battery specifications, and any statements on data handling, as these factors will determine whether the device becomes a differentiator or a niche curiosity in the crowded smart‑speaker arena.
Key Takeaways
OpenAI’s speaker will be a battery‑powered, metal‑cased, doughnut‑shaped device priced around $300‑$400.
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive is
About the Source
This analysis is based on reporting by MAC Rumors. Here is a short excerpt for context:
OpenAI's upcoming AI device is a hockey-puck-sized, doughnut-shaped smart speaker with no display, reports Bloomberg. The product is meant to be easy to carry around with one hand, and it will have "moving parts that help give it personality," along with a price tag around $300 to $400. Bloomberg describes it as an AI-centric device that will stand out from current smart speakers. There are speaker grilles and microphones for voice-based chats with ChatGPT, and the AI model used will have human-like responses and will learn more about the user over time. lawsuit against OpenAI, Apple claimed the company misled an Apple supplier into developing a metal finishing technique similar to what Apple uses. Former Apple design chief Jony Ive is designing the device for OpenAI. OpenAI acquired Ive's io device startup last year, adding multiple former Apple design team members to its hardware teams. Bloomberg says the portable speaker "is not something Apple has come close to launching," which supports OpenAI's claim that it has no interest in Apple's trade secrets. OpenAI said today that it is "building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple." Apple maintains OpenAI has developed its hardware using information sourced from Apple. HomePod mini speaker, but it is corded and not easily moved. Apple is also developing a tabletop robot that may share more similarities with OpenAI's device. It's said to have a display and a motorized arm for movement, but the robot isn't going to launch until 2027 at the earliest. Tags: ChatGPT, OpenAI This article, "OpenAI's ChatGPT Speaker Will Be Hockey Puck-Sized and Cost Over $300" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forumsRead the original at MAC Rumors
