Prime Highlights :
- OpenAI plans to enter the consumer hardware market with a new AI-first device, expected in the second half of 2026, marking a major expansion beyond software.
- The upcoming device is designed as a radical departure from smartphones, focusing on conversational AI and new ways to interact with artificial intelligence.
Key Facts :
- The hardware initiative accelerated after OpenAI acquired io Products, Inc. in 2025, bringing on former Apple designers, including co-founder Jony Ive.
- The device may prioritize voice commands, potentially omit a traditional screen, and is part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to develop AI interfaces beyond conventional mobile technology.
Background :
OpenAI plans to enter the consumer hardware market and will launch its first AI-powered device in the second half of 2026. The move marks a major shift for the company, which has so far focused mainly on software and artificial intelligence services.
Company leaders confirmed that the device reveal is on track for 2026, although a final launch or sales date has not yet been fixed. The timeline remains flexible as development continues. The announcement will put OpenAI in a growing group of tech companies creating AI-powered hardware beyond smartphones and laptops.
OpenAI’s hardware push gained momentum after it bought io Products, Inc. in 2025. Former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive co-founded the company, and his work has brought attention to the project’s focus on design. The acquisition gave OpenAI a dedicated hardware team and signaled a long-term commitment to building physical products.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, said the company is moving from concept to execution. He added that future advances in artificial intelligence will depend not only on better models, but also on new hardware interfaces that make AI more natural to use.
Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has described the upcoming device as a radical break from current mobile technology. The company has suggested it is not developing another smartphone, but rather a new category of AI-first hardware. OpenAI has expanded its hardware team, with several designers coming from Apple.
OpenAI has not shared technical details, but early reports say the device could be small and mostly use voice commands. Some sources say it may skip a traditional screen and focus on conversational AI and understanding context.
If successful, the device could reshape how people interact with artificial intelligence and signal OpenAI’s push toward a post-smartphone future.