OpenAI has entered the consumer hardware race with a product described by suppliers as similar to a screenless smart speaker. According to The Information, the company signed a manufacturing agreement with Luxshare to build the device, with a launch window targeted for late 2026 or early 2027.

This marks the first significant hardware step for OpenAI, and sources suggest the project is part of the secretive collaboration between Jony Ive and Sam Altman. The effort, announced earlier in 2025 with backing from SoftBank, aims to create a family of AI-native products designed under the io brand.

The hardware project is being led by Tang Tan, who left Apple in 2023 after a 25-year tenure, according to The Verge. Tan now serves as OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and reports directly to CEO Sam Altman. Mashable further reports that Tan has played an active role in recruiting Apple talent, promising those who join ‘less bureaucracy and more collaboration’ at OpenAI.

While specifics remain scarce, Sam Altman and Jony Ive offered glimpses into the philosophy behind the project during its May 2025 announcement.

The device, they said:

Altman described the product as a potential “third core device” alongside a laptop and smartphone — something so central that it could redefine how people interact with AI. He also spoke of a “family of devices”, citing his admiration for Apple’s seamless integration of hardware and software.

Ive, meanwhile, referred to the project as part of “a new design movement,” signaling a break from traditional hardware paradigms.

OpenAI’s hardware vision is built on the foundation of its $6.5 billion acquisition of io Products in May 2025. Founded by Tang Tan and Jony Ive, the studio was acquired with SoftBank funding to support the creation of next-generation consumer devices.

Since then, OpenAI has aggressively recruited from Apple’s product and operations teams. At least 25 former Apple employees joined in 2025 alone. Notable hires include Cyrus Daniel Irani, a longtime Siri interface designer, and Matt Theobald, who spent 17 years on Apple’s manufacturing design team. Other recruits bring expertise in human interface design, audio engineering, cameras, and wearables.

Most of these hires report to Tan, though some remain associated with LoveFrom, Ive’s independent design firm.

Luxshare, a key Apple supplier, has been contracted to manufacture OpenAI’s debut device. Meanwhile, Goertek, which produces components for AirPods, HomePods, and Apple Watch, has been approached to supply speaker modules. Other Chinese suppliers long tied to Apple are also engaged, including those in tooling and precision audio.

The reliance on Apple’s former employees and supply chain strengthens the impression that OpenAI is following an Apple-style playbook in its hardware strategy.

Since 2024, Apple has integrated OpenAI’s models into Siri and iOS, creating a close software partnership. Yet the hardware effort, built on ex-Apple talent and Apple suppliers, runs parallel to that relationship.

Industry observers note that the secrecy and anticipation surrounding the Ive–Altman project mirrors Apple’s own product launches, raising expectations that OpenAI’s first hardware release could become one of the most closely watched debuts in recent years.

Q: What hardware product is OpenAI working on?
A: A screenless smart speaker, with exploratory projects also underway on glasses, wearable pins, and a digital voice recorder.

Q: Who is leading OpenAI’s hardware division?
A: Tang Tan, a former Apple executive who now serves as chief hardware officer at OpenAI.

Q: How is Jony Ive involved?
A: The device is widely seen as the first output of the Jony Ive–Sam Altman hardware collaboration, backed by SoftBank and structured under the io brand.

Q: Which manufacturers are building the device?
A: Luxshare will manufacture it, while Goertek has been approached to provide speaker modules.

Q: When will the device launch?
A: The release is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

OpenAI’s hardware debut represents more than a single device — it signals the first tangible outcome of the Jony Ive–Sam Altman collaboration. By combining Apple design heritage, trusted supply chain partners, and OpenAI’s AI models, the company is aiming to define what AI-native consumer devices might look like in everyday life.

But this expansion also risks complicating OpenAI’s partnership with Apple. Since 2024, Apple has integrated ChatGPT models into Siri and iOS, deepening ties with OpenAI. Yet recent reports indicate that Apple is also working with Google’s Gemini, suggesting it may be hedging its bets as OpenAI builds devices that could one day compete directly with Apple’s own ecosystem.

The secrecy, scale, and anticipation around the Ive–Altman project mean expectations will be high. If successful, the launch could redefine how consumers interact with AI, while also reshaping the dynamics between the industry’s biggest players.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.