OpenAI plans to reveal its long-rumoured hardware device by the end of 2026, the company’s chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane confirmed on Monday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
While Lehane cautioned that the timeline depends on how developments progress, he said the company remains on track for a launch this year, in line with earlier reports suggesting a possible release around September.
He did not disclose the device’s exact purpose, but recent leaks have offered hints. A China-based leaker known as “Smart Pikachu” claims OpenAI is preparing to enter the market currently dominated by AirPods. According to the leak, Foxconn is developing a “special audio product” codenamed “Sweetpea” under a broader initiative called Project Gumdrop.
The device is described as a pair of open-ear headphones or earbuds with an egg-shaped charging dock. It is also said to feature a powerful 2-nanometer, smartphone-style chip, giving it significant on-device processing capabilities.
The leak further suggests that OpenAI may roll out four more devices between now and 2028, potentially including a “home-style device” and a smart pen.
Most official details about the project have come from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and legendary designer Jony Ive. Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom, partnered with OpenAI last year to develop the hardware. In past interviews, the duo have described the upcoming product as “so simple” that users will want to use it “almost without thought.”
Following the Davos announcement, expectations are now building that the first product from this high-profile collaboration could arrive before the end of the year.
