📰 Will OpenAI's Device Look Like This?

A small, screenless AI device — designed by Jony Ive to quietly reshape how we interact with technology, and perhaps even challenge Apple’s dominance.

May 24, 2025

What’s going on?

OpenAI has acquired the AI hardware startup io, co-founded by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal. It’s a clear signal that OpenAI isn’t just building powerful AI software anymore — it’s now designing the hardware we’ll use to interact with it.

Jony Ive, the designer behind the iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch, is now helping OpenAI create its first hardware for everyday users. Together with CEO Sam Altman, he’s working on a completely new kind of device. It’s not a phone, not a headset, and not like anything we’ve seen before.

Altman believes this new AI device could become a “third core device” in our daily lives — next to the computer and smartphone — and could eventually add $1 trillion in value to OpenAI.

What are they actually building?

Early reports give us a first glimpse of the prototype. Here’s what we know so far:

It’s slightly larger than the Humane AI Pin, but smoother and more elegant — think iPod Shuffle vibes
You wear it around your neck, and it uses cameras and microphones to understand what’s happening around you
There’s no screen, no apps, everything happens quietly in the background
It relies on your smartphone or computer for processing and display when needed
Privacy and smooth interaction with AI are key priorities
Mass production is expected by 2027, likely in Vietnam to shift production away from China

In short: it’s a small, screenless AI device that listens, sees, and responds — not through a screen, but through context.

Source: Possible OpenAI companion device sketch by Walter Richard

Why does it matter?

Because it changes how we use technology in everyday life. Altman thinks devices like phones, tablets, and smart speakers often hold back what AI can really do. This new device is designed to break through those limits.

Jony Ive has said that smartphones can take up too much of our time and attention. This new device is designed to do the opposite — helping you quietly, in the background, without taking over.

It reflects a broader trend: “physical AI”, where AI becomes part of small, everyday tools that support you without needing a screen.

Is Apple in trouble?

This new device is not here to replace the iPhone — at least not any time soon. Just like smartphones didn’t make laptops disappear, this could be a helpful extra, not a total replacement. But over time, it might take over some everyday tasks: asking questions, getting quick summaries, controlling smart devices, or staying connected to your digital world, all without having to grab a screen.

So why might this one succeed where others failed, like the Humane AI Pin or the Rabbit R1? One big reason is design. This isn’t a clunky or rushed gadget. It’s being developed by the designer behind Apple’s most famous products. And with OpenAI’s technology and vision powering it, the result feels much more complete and useful.

Even Apple seems to take it seriously. While they’re rolling out their own AI system — Apple Intelligence — they still depend on OpenAI’s ChatGPT in some important areas. That’s unusual for a company that normally builds everything themselves.

When will we see it?

The goal is mass production by 2027, according to sources. A prototype already exists, and Altman is said to be using it himself. But the final design and features might still change.

What’s clear is the ambition: this isn’t just another phone, watch, or pair of glasses. It’s something new — and it could reshape how we think about all of them.

View our Portfolios

New device, New competition

This isn’t just another tech gadget. It’s a fresh way to rethink how we interact with smart technology. By moving beyond screens and apps, OpenAI and Jony Ive want to create something that fits naturally into daily life — a device that’s simple, intuitive, and aware of what’s going on around you. It’s a big and risky move. But if it succeeds, it could open the door to a whole new way of using technology.

For Apple, Google, and others, this is more than just a new product, it’s a new kind of rival. OpenAI is no longer only focused on software. It’s stepping into hardware to shape the future of personal tech.. And with Jony Ive leading the design, the world — especially Apple — will be watching closely.

Source: De Tijd, iCreate, PhoneArena, The Hans India

Thank you for reading! 🙏
We put a lot of love into creating this post for you. If you enjoyed it, feel free to click the ❤️ button so more people can discover it on Substack.

Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments — we’d love to hear from you 💬