OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is working on its first physical device: a screenless smart speaker designed to move around the house thanks to a rechargeable battery. According to Bloomberg, the company wants to turn it into the physical embodiment of ChatGPT, capable of holding natural conversations, controlling connected devices, answering messages and anticipating the user’s needs without waiting for a command.
The device represents a qualitative leap compared to current home assistants. While Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri work with simple logic (command-response-execution), OpenAI’s proposal points to a much more personalized and proactive experience. The system would include a camera and multiple sensors to interpret the environment, as well as an advanced version of ChatGPT’s voice mode called GPT-Live, capable of listening and speaking simultaneously with naturalness.
Behind the project is Jony Ive, Apple’s legendary former design chief. OpenAI paid 6.5 billion dollars in 2025 for io Products, the company Ive co-founded, and his studio LoveFrom is taking part in the design of this new family of devices. The team brings together numerous former Apple designers and engineers responsible for products such as the iPhone and the Mac.
The device would also include mechanical elements that would allow it to move on its own, reinforcing the feeling that it’s ‘alive’. To personalize the experience, OpenAI plans for the assistant to learn from the user by analyzing information such as their emails, which raises interesting debates about privacy: how far are we willing to open up our digital life.
The project is moving forward under the pressure of an Apple lawsuit, which accuses OpenAI of using trade secrets to speed up the development of its devices. OpenAI denies the accusations. According to Bloomberg, the company aims to present the product during 2026 and launch it in 2027, turning ChatGPT into a physical presence we live with on a daily basis.
Source: Bloomberg / Xataka
