OpenAI may sell $300 smart speaker with camera — in 2027

Source: Mashable Tech

Financial pressures

It’s no secret that OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is losing money at a rapid clip. Some estimates suggest the company will run out of cash sometime in 2027 — and even a possible $100 billion investment round won’t keep the lights on for long.

Upcoming AI hardware

A new product could help: an AI‑powered smart speaker with a facial‑recognition camera, reportedly designed by Sir Jony Ive, the Apple veteran who joined OpenAI last May at a cost of $6.5 billion (source). Despite multiple setbacks, OpenAI has said Ive’s first product will be announced this year, though details remain tight‑lipped.

According to The Information, the speaker will cost between $200 and $300 and is unlikely to be available before February 2027.

Features of the smart speaker

The camera will “allow people to buy things by identifying them with a facial‑recognition feature similar to Apple’s Face ID,” members of OpenAI’s 200‑employee AI device group told the site. It is unclear whether facial recognition will be used merely for sign‑in or also to trigger purchases (e.g., blink once for a coffee maker, blink twice for a frother).

The device is described as being able to “observe users through video and nudge them toward actions it believes will help them achieve their goals.” For example, it could notice a user staying up late before a big meeting and suggest they go to bed.

Future device roadmap

Other AI hardware is reportedly in development:

• AI glasses – expected to reach mass production no earlier than 2028.
• AI‑powered smart lamp – currently in the works.
• Smart earbuds – rumored but not yet confirmed.

Market considerations

A smart speaker with a camera raises privacy concerns. Apple can more easily mitigate the “creepiness factor” because it emphasizes privacy and does not rely on advertising revenue. OpenAI, however, does sell ads (source), and consumers are already wary of the ad load on devices like the Amazon Echo smart displays (Ars Technica).

By 2027 the AI‑device market will be more crowded, with Apple reportedly working on a smart pin (report).

Outlook

If the “creepy” speaker can generate enough enthusiasm and pre‑orders, it could provide a pathway to profitability for OpenAI. If not, CEO Sam Altman may face increasing pressure to secure additional funding, perhaps relying on the speaker’s ability to “look for loose change in your couch cushions” as a tongue‑in‑cheek illustration of the company’s desperation.