OpenAI’s long-anticipated move into consumer hardware is coming into sharper focus.

Though a patent earlier this month suggests that OpenAI’s secret hardware project could be an AI-powered smart pen, more recent leaks from Asian publications and bloggers offer a glimpse into an even smaller device — a pair of earbuds. 

According to these reports, OpenAI is developing earbuds that can meet complex AI computing requirements. OpenAI code-named the device “Sweetpea” internally, per the reports. The earbuds reportedly use a two-nanometer processor capable of running AI tasks locally. OpenAI is reportedly working on a design that will allow the device to stand visually apart from conventional earbuds. 

Taiwan’s Economic Daily newspaper noted that OpenAI is likely to release the earbuds in September 2026. The startup is reportedly eyeing a target sales volume between 40 million and 50 million units in the first year, targeting a fraction of ChatGPT’s 800 million weekly users. The figure places “Sweetpea” in the realm of mainstream consumer launches rather than a niche product. 

The acquisition that started it all

OpenAI first ignited speculation that it could be planning a move into devices after acquiring former Apple designer Jony Ive’s startup, io, for $6.5 billion in May 2025. The move, the largest acquisition in OpenAI’s history, was a sign that the startup was seriously considering gaining a foothold in the wearables market. 

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week, OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane offered a first glimpse into the timeline for a gadget. He said OpenAI is on track to announce its first device in the second half of 2026. Lehane further stated that the upcoming consumer AI device is one of the company’s top priorities this year. 

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Ive have been working on a hardware collaboration for nearly three years now, intending to move consumers beyond screens and into other types of AI-powered devices. The Wall Street Journal reported that the two have considered AI headphones and other gadgets with cameras.

The “Sweetpea” earbuds will have to displace or coexist with incumbents like Apple’s AirPods and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds, which already tie deeply into their operating systems and ecosystems. OpenAI will also have to prove that its AI experiences are compelling enough that users will tolerate carrying and charging another device. 

Altman has explored AI devices before, albeit indirectly. In 2020, he invested in the startup Humane, which created a $699 Ai Pin that disappointed consumers due to overheating issues and a slow interface. HP acquired the company for parts in February 2025. 

Ive began working at Apple in 1992 and played a critical role in creating the iPhone, iPad and other products. He left in 2019 to create his own design firm, LoveFrom, which has since scored deals with Airbnb and Ferrari.

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