OpenAI’s first-ever hardware project with Jony Ive, the legendary designer behind the iPhone, might not be arriving as soon as planned.
Trouble under the hood
According to a new report (subscription required), the two are facing big technical headaches while developing their upcoming screen-less, AI-powered device – and those delays could push its launch into 2026. Even though Ive’s team has already worked on the hardware, reportedly, the software side and backend infrastructure are still causing problems.
The teams are reportedly trying to figure out things like what the assistant’s “personality” should be, how to handle privacy for a device that is always listening, and how to afford the massive computing power it will need to run OpenAI’s models smoothly.
A source close to OpenAI, however, downplayed the situation, saying these are just normal growing pains for any new product. Still, the list of challenges is long.
Apparently, the device is about the size of a phone and designed to interact with users using cameras, a mic, and a speaker – possibly even multiple cameras. It is meant to live on a desk or table but can also be carried around, constantly collecting data to help the AI “learn” and build memory over time.
That, of course, raises privacy concerns. And then there is the personality part – making sure the device talks when it should, stays quiet when it should, and doesn’t ramble like ChatGPT sometimes does. Or as one person put it, “model personality is a hard thing to balance.”
Caution after others failed
Similar devices, like the AI Pin, had a cool design but failed to deliver on performance. | Image credit – Humane
But the market isn’t exactly friendly right now. AI gadgets, like Humane’s AI Pin – which Sam Altman himself invested in – have already been discontinued, which might explain why OpenAI is taking a slower, more careful approach before unveiling its own.
What’s the biggest challenge for this kind of AI gadget?
Privacy concerns.
50%
Personality and usability.
0%
Cost and computing power.
0%
Market demand (will people even want it?).
50%
Will people really give up their screens?
From what we know, OpenAI and Ive want to create something that feels intuitive – a smart assistant that understands your mood, context, and surroundings without needing a display.
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Sounds futuristic, but I believe there’s a catch: people like their screens.
Scrolling, watching, texting, doomscrolling – it’s all part of the daily routine. So while the idea of a screen-free AI companion sounds refreshing on paper, it’s going to take a lot more than clever design and fancy AI to convince people to get such a device.
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