OpenAI’s doughnut-shaped smart speaker could cost $300 to $400

OpenAI’s first gadget is reportedly set to be a doughnut-shaped smart speaker. The ChatGPT creator is said to be considering a US price of between $300 and $400.

Although ChatGPT is hugely popular, its creator OpenAI is still operating at a loss. The company is, however, gradually rolling out advertising on ChatGPT’s free tier to create additional revenue. It is also preparing to move into hardware. It has been known for some time that OpenAI is working with Jony Ive, Apple’s former head of design, to bring devices dedicated to its AI to market. While no official details have yet emerged, a launch is expected soon.

OpenAI’s doughnut-shaped smart speaker

In the meantime, plenty of rumours are already circulating about the products OpenAI may release. In an article published a few days ago, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman mentioned a smart speaker shaped like a doughnut. Its design would set it apart from other smart speakers, as would moving components intended to show that the device is interacting with its user.

OpenAI is reportedly planning to use premium materials, including metal, and to fit a camera enabling the AI to observe the user’s surroundings. The device would work broadly like ChatGPT’s voice mode, while providing access to more advanced AI models that make exchanges feel more natural. In the United States, its price could range from $300 to $400.

A first step into hardware

Priced slightly above other smart speakers currently available but below an iPhone, this device could allow OpenAI to enter the market gradually before offering even more sophisticated products. When it announced its move into hardware, OpenAI pointed out that, even though computers can now “see, think and understand”, our experience is still shaped by “traditional” interfaces and products.

An AI-optimised smartphone could follow

Rumours also suggest that OpenAI may eventually reinvent the smartphone. The company is said to be developing a phone optimised for AI, with an operating system built around agents and task execution rather than apps. For now, though, none of this information has been officially confirmed and should therefore be treated cautiously.