OpenAI is building an AI speaker amid legal feud with Apple
Reports suggest OpenAI is developing an AI-powered smart speaker to compete in the home automation market. This development coincides with a legal dispute between OpenAI and Apple regarding trade secrets and employee poaching.
Why it matters
The move signals OpenAI's intent to expand from software into hardware, potentially disrupting the existing smart home ecosystem dominated by Apple and others.
OpenAI is building an AI-powered speaker that will provide smart home services, according to a Bloomberg report, citing anonymous sources who are familiar with the matter. The frontier AI lab has not confirmed the development.
The display-free speaker is slated to have moving parts and can provide personalised services to users by leveraging ChatGPT’s capabilities. It can reportedly learn about the user through the media they consume, eventually providing a more customised experience.
It was earlier known that OpenAI was exploring potential physical applications of its AI models. In 2025, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman formally announced an ongoing collaboration with veteran designer and former Apple executive Jony Ive. OpenAI also acquired Mr. Ive’s device startup io.
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