OpenAI confirms first consumer device is planned for 2026
OpenAI confirmed plans to debut its first consumer hardware device in the second half of 2026, marking the company’s most direct move beyond software and into consumer products. The timing was confirmed in Davos during an OpenAI appearance at an Axios-hosted event, where the company indicated the device remains on track for a late-2026 unveiling window.
The company has not revealed the product category, form factor, or full feature set. However, multiple reports circulating in January point to a small, screen-free device designed for voice-first interaction. Recent coverage suggests the leading possibility is a pair of AI-powered earbuds internally codenamed “Sweet Pea,” positioned as an always-available interface for an AI assistant.
Reporting on the “Sweet Pea” concept also includes manufacturing and volume targets that would be unusually large for a first-generation consumer device. Those reports describe OpenAI exploring manufacturing partnerships with major contract manufacturers, with some versions pointing to Foxconn-linked production and first-year shipment targets in the tens of millions. These figures have not been confirmed by OpenAI.
The same rumor cycle points to a custom processor designed to handle some on-device tasks, with most heavy AI processing still expected to run in the cloud. One strand of reporting describes a 2-nanometer (2nm) chip and names Samsung’s Exynos as a candidate, while another strand of coverage describes a custom 2nm processor without confirming the supplier. OpenAI has not confirmed the chip architecture or the split between on-device and cloud workloads.
OpenAI’s consumer hardware push follows its 2025 deal with Jony Ive’s device startup io. OpenAI and Ive published a joint statement describing io’s merger into OpenAI and Ive’s expanded design responsibilities across the company, framing the work as building new products and interfaces for the AI era.
TechCrunch noted earlier that OpenAI has explored a screen-free, pocketable device concept and that the company has been evaluating how a dedicated device could give OpenAI more control over how the assistant is delivered and experienced, rather than relying solely on existing platforms and app stores.
Alongside hardware work, OpenAI continues updating ChatGPT’s consumer product. This week, OpenAI began rolling out an age prediction system on ChatGPT consumer plans to estimate whether an account is likely to belong to someone under 18 and automatically apply additional protections when needed.
At this stage, OpenAI has confirmed the timing window for its first device, while the earbuds form factor, manufacturing plan, chip details, and volume targets remain unconfirmed and are described as reporting and rumor.
