OpenAI’s AI Audio-Based Device Expected to Launch in H2 of 2026
In Focus
- OpenAI’s first physical product will likely be a wearable device
- The company said development of AI device is on track
- The AI developer attributed revenue growth to expanded computing capacity
OpenAI might launch its first physical product in the second half of 2026. According to Gadgets360, OpenAI’s first AI device will likely be an audio-based wearable. The San Francisco-based AI company is reportedly working on three different gadgets.
OpenAI Says Device Product is on Track
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, said the company is on track with the development of the hardware device.
“We will share news about the new device within this year,” adding, “It will likely be in the second half, but we’ll have to see. Development is on track,” Lehane noted as cited by the Chosun Daily.
With the industry focusing its attention on the AI lab, speculation around the design of OpenAI’s first hardware product has been rampant. News about OpenAI’s wearable AI device and the company’s entry into the consumer hardware product industry have been circulating since May 2025.
The company started designing the AI product after acquiring Jony Ive’s IO for $6.5 billion. OpenAI also hired interface designer Janum Trivedi to join the Ive design team. Trivedi previously worked at Apple and has developed many key features for the tech company, including the Split View, iPad pointer Gestures, and other iPadOS 15 interface elements.
Leveraging Partnership with Jony Ive
Acquisition of the iPhone designer’s startup paved the way for Ive to lead the creative direction of OpenAI’s hardware projects. Jony Ive’s design of OpenAI devices is expected to be guided by his studio, LoveFrom.
The AI lab’s first consumer device moved to the prototyping phase in November 2025 after its design was finalized. The company is reportedly strengthening its audio-based AI models to improve real-time voice interaction as it gets closer to the OpenAI device reveal event.
OpenAI’s increased focus on generative audio AI models also reflects wider challenges like latency and conversational flow. The AI product will not have a display screen. Instead, it is expected to leverage voice inputs, which explains OpenAI’s focus on audio. CEO Sam Altman has stated that a physical hardware product had the potential to become the “biggest thing” the company has ever done.
OpenAI’s Annual Revenue Growth
As OpenAI works towards launching the first physical product, its 2025 yearly income has crossed the $20 billion mark. This represents a significant revenue growth from $6 billion in 2024.
The company has attributed the growth to expanded computing capacity, which increased to 1.9 gigawatts in 2025 compared to the 0.6 gigawatts in 2024. Currently, the company’s offerings span text, voice, images, code, and APIs.
Recently, the company started offering text translation on a newly released ChatGPT interface as a free service as it starts eying the industry. According to OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, the AI developer will be focusing on workflow automation and agentic AI in the next phase.
