Fresh reports suggest that OpenAI is preparing to enter the consumer hardware space with an AI focused audio headset, rather than the widely discussed AI Pen. The San Francisco based company is said to be nearing the final stages of vendor selection and is preparing for large scale production once that process is complete.
According to a report by a technology publication, OpenAI is targeting shipments of 40 to 50 million units in the first year of release. If accurate, this points to strong internal confidence in the product. The same report claims that the device will be revealed in the second half of the ongoing year. However, it may not reach the market until 2027, as earlier comments from Jony Ive suggested that this timeline is more realistic.
Another business daily from the region also stated that OpenAI is still finalising its manufacturing partner and production location. This could push mass production towards the end of the year.
The report adds that the long rumoured AI Pen will not be the company’s first hardware launch, though it may still be part of its future plans.
That said, the claim about an audio headset remains speculative. During a legal dispute last year involving OpenAI and Jony Ive, an official declaration stated that the first device from the company would not fall into this category. Tang Tan, OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer and Co Founder of io, said that the first AI device “is not an in ear device, nor a wearable device.”
If the latest report proves true, it would raise questions about those earlier statements. However, there is no official confirmation from OpenAI at this stage. All details are expected to become clear once the company formally unveils its first device later this year.
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