For several months, OpenAI's first hardware product was discussed mainly in general terms. Now it is becoming something you can imagine on your nightstand. According to information from Bloomberg, it is expected to be a doughnut-shaped speaker that users will carry around the house and set down, for example, beside the bed or on the kitchen counter. It is reportedly about the size of a hockey puck and is expected to cost between 6,000 and 8,500 Czech crowns.
What the device is supposed to do
The original description, which appeared in July, referred to a screenless speaker capable of moving and described it as a physical embodiment of ChatGPT. The new details clarify this concept. Bloomberg writes that OpenAI expects the device to be used as an assistant throughout the day, much like people currently use ChatGPT's voice mode on the iPhone. The model in the device is supposed to be more advanced, although the sources did not specify exactly what that means. The device should gradually learn who it is speaking with.
Bloomberg's sources also mention separate movable components that are designed to move on their own and visually accompany responses to users. The moving elements are intended to give the device some personality. The company therefore does not want just another cylinder that lights up blue when you speak to it.
Specifications revealed so far
When it will go on sale and how much it will cost
A dark cloud over the entire project
OpenAI's entry into the hardware business has not had a smooth start. Apple is suing the company over the alleged theft of trade secrets, which OpenAI denies. The lawsuit was filed on July 10, just four weeks before information about the speaker was leaked to the public. In response, OpenAI conducted an internal audit, according to sources, to determine how the company had handled Apple's intellectual property in connection with this product. AppleInsider, however, points out that such a short period cannot be enough to fully assess the technology in a product that is already approaching production. It also notes that similar assessments of Samsung smartphone designs in a previous dispute with Apple took several months.
