OpenAI is said to be gearing up to enter the consumer electronics space with its first-ever physical product, which could reportedly be a pair of AI-enabled wireless earbuds.
According to information shared by a tipster on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the company is working on earbuds powered by its own artificial intelligence system, marking a significant step beyond its software-focused offerings.
Sources suggest that OpenAI has scaled back its initial hardware ambitions due to rising production and manufacturing costs. Earlier speculation had pointed toward more unconventional wearable concepts, including a pendant-style device or a pen-shaped gadget designed to integrate AI into daily life.
These earlier ideas were in line with recent remarks by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, who expressed interest in creating AI hardware that delivers a calm and seamless user experience without constant interruptions. However, the company now appears to be shifting toward a more practical and commercially viable direction.
Wireless earbuds represent a familiar product category that is already widely used by consumers and easier to manufacture at scale. This makes them a safer and more affordable entry point for OpenAI as it explores the hardware market for the first time.Internally, the project is reportedly known by the codename “Dime,” although no official branding or product name has been revealed so far.
At present, concrete details about the device remain limited, with no confirmed information about its design, functionality, or how OpenAI’s AI technology would be integrated into everyday usage.According to the report, the earbuds could be released before the end of the year.
A more advanced version may follow at a later stage, particularly once global supply issues related to high-bandwidth memory are resolved.OpenAI’s move toward hardware comes shortly after the company brought on former Apple chief designer Jony Ive.
His involvement is widely viewed as a strong signal that OpenAI is pursuing long-term plans to develop consumer devices built around artificial intelligence at their core.
