OpenAI’s first device may come with a camera

OpenAI’s first consumer device is a smart speaker priced around $200 to $300. According to The Information it is said to have a built-in camera to know what’s happening in the room. The same report describes it as pocket-sized, with former Apple designer Jony Ive working on it.

Using the camera, the speaker could learn who is using it and what’s nearby, with object awareness and Face ID-like authentication for purchases. It will be AI integrated where you can make requests and talk to it. The assistant also observes the users and suggests actions based on context, like nudging you to sleep earlier if you have an early meeting.

This speaker isn’t expected to ship before February 2027. OpenAI is also said to be exploring smart glasses and a smart lamp, but those sound still in early stages. While the glasses are described as unlikely to be ready for mass production until 2028. The effort itself is sizable, as more than 200 people reportedly are working on a family of devices.

This hardware push traces back to OpenAI’s move to acquire Jony Ive’s io Products in a deal reported around $6.5 billion, and the broader partnership between Sam Altman and Ive’s design world. While Altman told employees it's "the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen."

OpenAI has also hinted at building something calmer and less annoying than the usual gadget experience, with a possible second half of 2026 unveiling, even if shipping lands later.

A camera-aware assistant that understands your surroundings could be the most useful form of AI yet, but it immediately raises questions about privacy and trust. Meta has already shown demand for camera-based smart glasses, and Apple is rumored to be working on their own. So if OpenAI can make this feel genuinely helpful, it could change how AI eco-systems are currently.