OpenAI is preparing to enter the consumer hardware market with an AI-powered smart speaker designed to serve as a new type of personal computing device for the artificial intelligence era, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the project.
The device, which remains in development, is expected to be a compact, screen-free speaker designed to provide a more natural and interactive way for users to engage with AI in their homes. Rather than functioning as a traditional voice assistant, the product is being positioned as an always-available AI companion capable of understanding conversations, assisting with daily tasks, and adapting to users’ needs.
The smart speaker is expected to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology and offer a wide range of capabilities, including controlling connected smart-home devices, playing music and other media, answering questions, managing communications, and accessing AI-powered services. The device aims to create a more seamless relationship between users and artificial intelligence by bringing conversational AI into everyday environments.
OpenAI’s move into hardware reflects the company’s broader ambition to expand beyond software and make AI more accessible through dedicated consumer products. The company has been exploring new ways to integrate AI into daily life, with hardware seen as a potential pathway to deliver more personalised and intuitive AI experiences.
