OpenAI is planning a portable, screenless smart speaker as an AI companion for the home. The device is meant to feel alive, but Apple's trade secrets lawsuit could delay its launch.
OpenAI's long-awaited move into hardware will reportedly begin with a portable, screenless speaker, according to a Bloomberg report. The device, still in development, is meant to serve as a human-like AI companion at home, controlling smart home gadgets, playing media, answering questions, handling messages, and tapping into the full range of ChatGPT.
OpenAI internally describes the product as a "new type of home computer for the AI era," Bloomberg reports. It includes a camera and other sensors to help it understand the user's surroundings and context. Unlike traditional smart speakers, it has a rechargeable battery so it can be carried from room to room.
Mechanical elements are designed to make the device appear lifelike
The speaker's defining feature will reportedly be its personality. OpenAI wants the device to become more personalized and proactive as it gets to know its owner: It is meant to anticipate needs, offer information on its own, and access personal data such as emails.
