OpenAI, the company known for ChatGPT, is venturing into hardware manufacturing. Its first device is codenamed Sweetpea, and it appears to be a special AI earpiece designed to compete directly with Apple AirPods. According to a leak from Chinese tech blogger Smart Pikachu, Sweetpea is designed as an oval metal capsule worn behind the ear, similar to a hearing aid. It is not a traditional earbud inserted into the ear, but rather something that will make it possible to use AI on a daily basis—for example, for voice control, calls, or tasks previously handled by ChatGPT through a phone.
The project is led by Jony Ive, Apple's former chief designer, who joined OpenAI after it acquired his startup, io Products, Inc., for $6.5 billion (approximately CZK 149.5 billion). OpenAI thus gained a team of hardware and software experts, including engineers, physicists, and scientists. The goal is to create a device that will make it possible to use ChatGPT anytime and anywhere, all day long, without having to reach for a phone.
Design and manufacturing details
Sweetpea is expected to be manufactured by Foxconn, which has been instructed to prepare 40 to 50 million units for the first year. That is a huge number, suggesting that OpenAI expects massive interest. The device is said to feature a unique egg-shaped metal design, with a Samsung Electronics Exynos chip manufactured using a 2-nanometer process inside (1 nanometer is one billionth of a meter). This chip is comparable to those found in smartphones and is expected to enable Sweetpea to replace some iPhone functions, such as Siri commands.
According to the leak from Smart Pikachu, Sweetpea differs from conventional earbuds—it is more of a wearable AI device that integrates artificial intelligence directly into everyday life. OpenAI is reportedly planning to launch the device as early as September, which could shake up the wireless earbud market.
5 devices in development
OpenAI is not stopping with Sweetpea. According to leaked information, Foxconn is expected to prepare prototypes of five devices by the fourth quarter of 2028. These include a pen and a home device that could expand the AI hardware ecosystem. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Jony Ive said in a statement that they had assembled a team focused on products that inspire and empower people. This team is now working with OpenAI researchers and engineers in San Francisco.
Sources such as U.S. tech outlet Digital Trends report that Sweetpea is part of a broader plan for "physical AI," not just software. OpenAI thus aims to create devices that deliver innovative experiences, although it has not officially unveiled anything yet.
Sweetpea is being described as an "AirPods killer" because it targets the same segment—wireless audio devices with AI features. A tech industry source said that the goal is a device that will make it possible to use ChatGPT nonstop, which could attract users who want more than just music and calls. OpenAI is also reportedly considering a pen-shaped AI device, expanding its ambitions beyond earpieces.
