OpenAI's first hardware device is a doughnut-shaped AI speaker designed by Jony Ive's LoveFrom, priced $300-$400 for 2027

A doughnut-shaped AI companion

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on August 7 that OpenAI's first consumer hardware device is a battery-powered smart speaker shaped like a doughnut, roughly the size of a hockey puck. Designed by Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio, the device has no screen and relies on voice interaction through advanced versions of ChatGPT's voice mode. OpenAI has discussed pricing between $300 and $400, with a planned launch in 2027. The company has declined to comment on its product roadmap and has not officially announced the device. Bloomberg reported that OpenAI is viewing the smart speaker as a smartphone replacement.

The device is intended as a personal AI companion that can be carried from room to room in one hand, placed on a kitchen counter, a shelf, or a bedside table. It features speaker grills, microphones, a camera, sensors, and LED lights. Notably, it includes moving parts that shift on their own when responding to users, designed to make the device feel more alive than today's stationary speakers, according to Bloomberg's anonymous sources. The camera and sensors help the AI understand the context of a user's environment, allowing it to tailor conversations and learn routines over time. The device can also control smart home devices.

Design and the Ive connection

LoveFrom, the studio founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, designed the device using high-quality metal and other premium materials. The connection to Ive traces to OpenAI's $6.5 billion acquisition of the io startup last year. Gurman said on X that the device looks, feels, and acts nothing like an Apple product or anything Apple is currently planning.

The big takeaway here is that it looks, feels and acts nothing like an Apple product or anything the company is currently planning.

The Apple lawsuit

OpenAI is developing the device as it faces a legal battle with Apple. Apple is suing OpenAI, alleging the company stole trade secrets tied to hardware development. Apple's suit points to a metal-finishing technique used for the device's premium shell. On August 5, OpenAI asked a judge to throw the case out.

OpenAI is building something entirely new and different from anything at Apple.

OpenAI launched an internal probe following Apple's lawsuit and determined the speaker does not use Apple's intellectual property. Apple has requested an injunction that, if granted, could delay the launch. OpenAI built its hardware group partly by hiring former Apple employees, including a former Vision Pro leader.

Price and market positioning

At $300 to $400, the device would cost significantly more than most smart speakers. Amazon's Echo Show 15 with a 15.6-inch display is priced at $300, and the Rabbit R1, which also includes a camera and sensors, costs $199. OpenAI's only other hardware product is the $230 Codex Micro mini keyboard.

Privacy concerns surround the device, given its camera, microphones, and environmental sensors. The device joins a growing category of AI-equipped hardware that has drawn scrutiny over data collection, similar to the concerns raised about connected glasses from Meta.

Bloomberg first reported on the screenless companion in July 2026, with the August 7 report adding design details, the price range, and the 2027 launch window. OpenAI is reportedly exploring a family of AI-powered devices beyond this speaker.