It might not be a wearable device after all, as OpenAI is reportedly working on its first hardware product, a smart speaker powered by ChatGPT. According to The Information (via Engadget), the device will include advanced features like a built-in camera for facial recognition and object identification. OpenAI aims to position the speaker as a more interactive and intelligent alternative to existing products like Amazon Echo and Google Home.

The smart speaker could cost between $200 and $300 and is expected to launch in early 2027. The device will reportedly use its camera to recognize objects nearby, scan faces with Face ID-like authentication, and even listen to conversations in its surroundings.

The speaker will try to assist users by nudging them toward actions that align with their goals. For example, it could suggest going to bed early if a user has a major event the next day.

OpenAI hired former Apple designer Jony Ive to lead the hardware design. Ive’s design firm, io Products, was acquired by OpenAI in 2025 for $6.5 billion. Over 200 employees are currently working on OpenAI’s hardware division, indicating the company’s serious commitment to entering the consumer tech market.

Privacy concerns have already become a major talking point, as some of you might already feel while reading this article. Yes, the always-on camera and microphone could raise serious questions about how OpenAI stores and processes user data.

Some of you might also feel uncomfortable being watched all the time through a camera, especially in private spaces like in living rooms. The fact that the device is designed to actively track its surroundings only amplifies these concerns.

In addition to the smart speaker, OpenAI is working on other AI-powered devices, including smart glasses and a smart lamp. Reports suggest the smart glasses may not be ready until 2028, while the smart lamp’s production status remains unclear.

As OpenAI is facing a competitive market and might actually go bankrupt in 2027, according to many reports, the company is planning to diversify its product strategy and eventually launch hardware products powered by ChatGPT. This diversification could help stabilize the company in the long run, but it won’t be easy.

Established players like Amazon, Google, and Apple already have proven smart speaker products in the market, and OpenAI will need to overcome significant challenges, including ChatGPT’s tendency to generate inaccurate or biased responses, to convince consumers to embrace its new devices.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

Stay ahead in tech! Join our Telegram community and sign up for our daily newsletter of top stories!

The post OpenAI may launch a ChatGPT-powered smart speaker with a camera appeared first on Gizmochina.