Report: OpenAI’s First Hardware Could Be AI Earbuds

OpenAI’s first hardware device may be a pair of AI-powered earbuds, according to a Chinese tipster on Weibo, cited by GSMArena. The report says OpenAI has scaled back broader hardware ambitions for now, likely due to rising production costs.

Earlier rumors suggested OpenAI was exploring a small pendant or even a pen-shaped device, echoing CEO Sam Altman’s comments about wanting something more “peaceful and calm” than a smartphone. Those ideas surfaced after the company brought in former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, but the current leak points to earbuds as the more immediate and realistic direction.