OpenAI Plans to Reveal Its First Hardware Device in Late 2026

OpenAI is preparing to announce its first hardware product in the second half of 2026, according to Axios. Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane confirmed at the Axios House event in Davos that the company is "on track" for an unveiling later in the year, though he did not specify the device type.

The project builds on OpenAI’s partnership with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, whose firm io was acquired in 2025. Reports suggest the device could be a wearable with no screen, described by CEO Sam Altman as simpler and more “peaceful” than a smartphone.

Additional leaks indicate the product, codenamed “Sweet Pea,” may take the form of AI-enabled earbuds designed to process tasks locally using a custom chip. Early reports also suggest OpenAI could partner with manufacturers such as Foxconn or Luxshare to produce the device, targeting up to 50 million units in its first year of sales.

If released as expected, the hardware would mark OpenAI’s first move into consumer devices, expanding beyond its ChatGPT platform to directly integrate AI into everyday wearables.