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After OpenAI poached famed former Apple designer Jony Ive earlier this year in a multibillion-dollar buyout, the company has allegedly signed a deal with key Apple device assembler Luxshare to make a consumer device.
The current set of prototypes includes a screen-free smart speaker, as well as glasses, a digital voice recorder, and a wearable “pin.” OpenAI is targeting late 2026 to 2027 for the release of the first device. The news was originally reported by The Information, and OpenAI has not yet commented on it.
The company is reportedly in touch with Goertek, another Chinese manufacturer, which helps assemble AirPods, HomePods, and Apple Watches, to supply components like speaker modules for the planned devices.
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In addition, OpenAI has reportedly hired two dozen of Apple’s former consumer hardware people to assist with the devices. These new hires come in addition to numerous former Apple execs that came into the company after it spent $6.5 billion to acquire io Products in May, which brought about 55 new staff to the company.
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Jony Ive, who founded io Products, is thought to have played a key role in the design of the Apple Watch, iMac, Power Mac G4 Cube, iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook. He was Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design and chief design officer when he left the company.
Though this is the first time deals with suppliers have come to light, reports about its plans to move into the hardware game surfaced earlier this year. In May, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he had plans for an entire “family of devices” following Ive joining the company in a call with staff. The Wall Street Journal reported that the device may be pocket-size, contextually aware, and screen-free, though eyewear was apparently not on the table at the time.
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I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
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