OpenAI, having thrust generative AI into the public spotlight, is now reportedly turning its attention to a new type of technology device, distinctly different from current market offerings. CEO Sam Altman, during an internal meeting last Wednesday, unofficially previewed the company’s next major innovation—clarifying explicitly that it will not involve wearable technology. Instead, the upcoming product is said to be a compact, screen-free device capable of fully understanding its user’s environment and context.
This newly imagined device, described as small enough to comfortably sit atop a desk or slip into a pocket, will function as an intuitive AI companion, seamlessly weaving itself into the fabric of users’ everyday lifestyles. Altman positioned it, notably, as a “third core device,” complementing essential gadgets like Apple’s iPhone and MacBook Pro.
The preview announcement coincided closely with the disclosure of OpenAI’s acquisition of io, a design-focused startup spearheaded by renowned former Apple designer Jony Ive. The deal, valued at $6.5 billion, will see Ive take up a critical creative leadership position within OpenAI’s design team. Altman suggested the move could dramatically elevate OpenAI’s valuation, adding upwards of $1 trillion in market value over time, as it pioneers an entirely new category in consumer tech.
Altman placed significant emphasis on the necessity for secrecy around the project, underscoring the risk of competitors preemptively copying the concept before its official launch. Ironically, however, his comments were leaked, revealing potential internal challenges facing the company’s ability to maintain strict confidentiality about its future ambitions.
