OpenAI's first hardware product will be a rechargeable, portable AI-powered speaker designed as a "humanlike AI companion" that can talk naturally, control smart home devices, and play audio without a screen, according to a new Bloomberg report. The device will have mechanical elements that move on their own to create an illusion of being "alive" and will use a more advanced version of GPT-Live, the model powering ChatGPT's new voice mode, allowing it to listen and talk simultaneously while adapting mid-conversation. It will also include a camera and other sensors to gather context for personalized responses. OpenAI acquired io, the startup founded by ex-Apple designer Jony Ive, for $6.5 billion in 2025 to help design the speaker, which is planned for release sometime in 2027 but could be delayed as Apple seeks a court injunction on OpenAI's hardware products. Apple recently filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former employees over trade secret theft, accusing former employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan of downloading confidential hardware files and claiming OpenAI's interview process solicited additional confidential information. Apple stated OpenAI has hired over 400 of its former employees, including Paul Meade, the former top executive for the Vision Pro headset, who now leads OpenAI's hardware division.