OpenAI's Mysterious Hardware Under Trial Production in Shenzhen, Set for 2027 Launch

Beating AI News: OpenAI is reportedly conducting secret trial production of a screenless AI hardware device in Shenzhen, with plans for a 2027 launch. According to an industry insider, the project is highly confidential, and OpenAI engineers traveling to Shenzhen for business reportedly did not even carry their phones. Based on its form and timeline, it is highly likely to be the first consumer hardware being developed by OpenAI in collaboration with Jony Ive's team, though this cannot be fully confirmed at the moment. Bloomberg previously revealed that the device is a portable screenless smart speaker, shaped like a donut, roughly the size of a hockey puck, and equipped with a camera, microphone, lights, and movable components. It is expected to be priced between $300 and $400, with a planned launch in 2027. OpenAI began integrating into the Chinese supply chain as early as last year. According to *The Information* at the time, Luxshare Precision had secured an assembly contract for at least one OpenAI device, and OpenAI had also approached Goertek for sourcing speaker modules. [Original Link]