OpenAI’s first AI device could be a portable ChatGPT-powered smart speaker

By leveraging GPT-Live, the smart speaker could learn more about its user over time and tailor its responses accordingly. The goal is reportedly to make the device more personalised and proactive, allowing it to anticipate the user’s needs and “connect on a humanlike level with users”.

The device may also be far more physically expressive than a conventional smart speaker. Other rumoured features include mechanical components that can move autonomously, a camera to understand the user’s surroundings, and a rechargeable battery.

OpenAI’s smart speaker is also believed to be at the centre of an ongoing legal dispute with Apple. The iPhone maker alleges that OpenAI stole trade secrets that contributed to the device’s development. However, sources familiar with the project told Bloomberg that the smart speaker does not resemble any existing Apple product.

OpenAI could launch the device in 2027, although the company may offer an early preview as soon as this year. If the reports prove accurate, the product could mark a significant new chapter for OpenAI, as it is also believed to be working on a smartphone, its own AI chips, a web browser, and a next-generation social network.

Source: Bloomberg via MacRumors