Hajra Naz
New details keep emerging about OpenAI’s mysterious hardware device. It was previously described as an AI-powered smart speaker. Reports have called it the physical embodiment of ChatGPT.
Bloomberg has now shared fresh details about the device’s design. According to the report, the device will be donut-shaped. That shape is intentional. It’s meant to let users easily carry the device around their home. People could place it wherever makes sense, whether that’s a bedside table or a kitchen counter.
The materials sound premium too. Sources told Bloomberg the device will be made from high-quality metal. It’s designed to have a genuinely premium look and feel. There’s one detail that’s raising eyebrows, though. Sources say the device will include distinct moving parts. Exactly what that means remains unclear.
Price is another interesting piece of the puzzle. According to the report, the device could cost more than a typical smart speaker. Estimates suggest a price range of $300 to $400 per unit. For comparison, most of Amazon’s smart home speakers cost far less. Their prices typically range from around $40 at the low end to $240 at the high end.
Put it all together, and the picture is unusual. This is an expensive, talking AI device shaped like a donut, complete with some kind of moving components. On paper, there’s a clear strategic logic behind the move. A smart home device would help OpenAI weave ChatGPT more deeply into people’s daily lives.
Read More: OpenAI Is Preparing to Launch Its First AI Device in 2026 — and It Might Be Earbuds
That said, history offers some warning signs. Smart speakers haven’t always been profitable products. Companies like Amazon have struggled to turn a real profit on their speaker lineups. Breaking into this market isn’t easy, either. It’s historically been a difficult space for new entrants to succeed in. A higher price point could make that challenge even tougher for OpenAI.
The device isn’t being built entirely in-house. OpenAI is developing it in partnership with LoveFrom. That’s the design studio founded by Jony Ive, the famed former Apple designer known for shaping some of Apple’s most iconic products. According to Bloomberg, the device likely won’t hit the market until sometime in 2027.
OpenAI’s broader push into hardware hasn’t been smooth sailing. The company is currently facing a lawsuit from Apple, a company with deep experience and dominance in the hardware space. Apple has accused OpenAI of stealing trade secrets during this hardware push. OpenAI has firmly denied any wrongdoing in response.
Taken together, these developments paint a picture of a company moving cautiously but ambitiously into unfamiliar territory. Hardware is a notoriously difficult business, requiring not just strong design but also manufacturing expertise, supply chain management, and long-term profitability that many tech companies have struggled to achieve.
OpenAI’s donut-shaped device represents a bold bet that AI-first hardware can succeed where earlier smart speakers often fell short. Whether that bet pays off will likely depend on execution, pricing, and how well the device actually integrates into people’s everyday routines once it finally launches.
