What’s on the drawing board for OpenAI’s secret device?
The collaboration between OpenAI and designer Jony Ive is moving beyond hints and leaks toward concrete technical challenges. A Financial Times report outlines a palm-sized AI gadget that could become a member of the user’s daily ecosystem without becoming a screen-dominant gadget. Instead of a phone or tablet, the device is designed to live on desks or be carried in a pocket, offering a voice- and camera-enabled interface as its primary mode of interaction.
Two core questions dominate early development: what should the device’s personality feel like, and how often should it initiate conversations? One source described the goal as creating a friend who is a computer, explicitly noting that the device should not resemble a “weird AI girlfriend.” That framing signals an emphasis on balance—an approachable, reliable helper rather than a chatty companion with unpredictable interruptions.
Design goals: simplicity, accessibility, and a human touch
According to the FT reporting, the device lacks a traditional screen and relies on a microphone, speaker, and possibly multiple cameras to communicate. This setup aligns with the vision of a wearable-like assistant that can sit on a desk or slip into everyday life without demanding constant attention. The aim is to achieve a seamless experience—an “always on” companion that can answer questions, manage routines, and assist with tasks, much like a voice assistant but with higher quality interactions.
OpenAI’s leadership has signaled that the device should be “accessible but not intrusive,” positioned somewhere between Siri-like convenience and a more capable, context-aware assistant. The challenge is to nail down a voice and set of conversational cues that feel reliable and reassuring, rather than intrusive or uncanny. The company is exploring how to meter engagement—how often the device should speak, when it should listen, and how to gracefully end conversations.
Technical and privacy hurdles
Beyond user experience, the project faces heavy technical and infrastructure constraints. The FT notes that OpenAI must solve how to provide sufficient compute for an always-on, context-rich device without compromising privacy. In practice, this means determining where processing happens: on-device versus cloud-based inference, and how to handle data collection in a way that users understand and consent to. Privacy concerns are particularly salient given the device’s constant listening capabilities and its camera features.
Analysts and insiders caution that OpenAI’s existing compute footprint—primarily tuned for services like ChatGPT—may not yet support a standalone hardware product at scale. One source highlighted the tension: the company needs to “fix” compute capacity before delivering a hardware experience that customers can rely on day in and day out. The stakes are high, because any misstep on privacy or responsiveness could undermine trust in the brand’s broader AI ambitions.
What a late-2026 to early-2027 timeline could mean
The secret device is described as the first member of a family of products geared toward a more intimate, ambient AI experience. If released, it could set the tone for how OpenAI expands from software into hardware, with Ive guiding the design language and user experience. The proposed timeline—late 2026 to early 2027—suggests a cautious, iterative rollout, allowing the team to refine personality profiles, conversation pacing, and privacy safeguards before a wider launch.
Looking ahead: a tested, trusted assistant—not a novelty
For consumers, the appeal rests on a simple premise: a dependable digital assistant that can be a steady presence in daily life without becoming a distraction or a source of discomfort. The balancing act between helpfulness and privacy, between proactive engagement and quiet support, will determine whether the device resonates as a true companion or a curiosity that fades after initial buzz.
As OpenAI and Ive pursue this vision, observers will be watching not just for technical breakthroughs but for how the device handles real-world scenarios: conversations that respect boundaries, data that users can control, and a design philosophy that feels stylish yet understated. If they succeed, the gadget might live up to its promise of being a friend who’s a computer—useful, trustworthy, and unobtrusively present.
