OpenAI’s Reported Smart Speaker Could Cost $300 to $400 and Arrive in 2027

OpenAI is reportedly preparing a premium AI smart speaker that could sell for $300 to $400 and arrive in 2027, positioning the company to bring ChatGPT into the physical home in a way that goes beyond phones and browsers. The device is said to be a portable, donut-shaped product made from metal and designed to move around the house.

The new details, reported by Bloomberg, suggest OpenAI’s hardware ambitions are becoming more concrete even as the company faces legal pressure from Apple over alleged trade-secret theft, a dispute OpenAI denies. The timing and price point matter because they place the product in a difficult market: smart speakers are familiar, but a high-end AI-first model will need to justify a much steeper cost than mainstream alternatives.

OpenAI has already described the device as a kind of physical version of ChatGPT. The latest reporting adds design clues, an expected premium build, and a possible launch window that points to a 2027 debut if development stays on track.

What OpenAI is reportedly building

OpenAI’s upcoming consumer device is being framed as a smart speaker, but it appears to be designed more like an AI companion than a typical voice assistant.

According to the new report, the hardware would likely sit somewhere between a tabletop speaker, a digital assistant, and a portable home device. Unlike standard smart speakers, the product is being described as something users can pick up and move between rooms, such as from a bedside table to a kitchen counter.

The company has previously hinted that the machine is intended to make ChatGPT feel present in daily life rather than confined to an app window. That broader concept helps explain why OpenAI is exploring hardware at all: if the company controls both software and device design, it can shape how people interact with its AI throughout the day.

Why the form factor matters

The reported shape is unusual enough to set the device apart from the cylindrical or puck-like speakers that dominate the market. Bloomberg says the product will be donut-shaped, a design that could help explain both portability and a built-in microphone and speaker layout.

That matters because the device’s usefulness may depend on where it sits in the home. A voice-driven AI assistant only becomes truly useful if it is always reachable, easy to reposition, and capable of responding naturally to different household contexts.

How much could OpenAI’s smart speaker cost?

OpenAI’s device is reportedly expected to cost between $300 and $400, a price that would put it well above many mainstream smart speakers on the market.

That range would make the product feel more like a premium consumer gadget than a mass-market voice assistant. It also signals that OpenAI may not be aiming to compete on price with the most common speakers sold by Amazon and other companies.

For context, Amazon’s Echo lineup spans a wide range, with prices that start at around $40 and rise to roughly $240 at the top end. That comparison shows how aggressively OpenAI may be positioning its device as a higher-end offering.

Why is OpenAI entering hardware now?

OpenAI appears to be entering hardware to make its AI more central to everyday life, and a dedicated device could help the company deepen user engagement outside the smartphone and desktop environment.

A home speaker built around ChatGPT would give OpenAI a direct line into routine activities such as planning meals, answering questions, setting reminders, and managing household tasks. In that sense, the product is not just a gadget; it is a distribution strategy.

That is an important business move for a company whose software is otherwise accessed through other firms’ platforms. Owning a physical device gives OpenAI more control over the user experience, branding, and possibly future revenue streams.

The opportunity and the risk

The opportunity is clear: a widely used AI device could extend OpenAI’s reach far beyond the chat interface.

The risk is equally obvious. Smart speakers have never been an easy category to monetize, and a premium price could limit adoption. Consumers may like the idea of an intelligent home assistant, but they may not want to pay several hundred dollars for one, especially when phones already do much of the same work.

That makes OpenAI’s challenge twofold: it has to prove the device is meaningfully better than existing assistants, and it has to do so in a market where many people have already grown accustomed to lower-cost alternatives.

What do we know about the design?

Bloomberg’s reporting suggests the device will have a metal exterior, a high-end finish, and some kind of moving mechanical elements. Those details are notable because they point to a product that is being treated as a design object, not simply a utility speaker.

The involvement of LoveFrom, the design studio founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, further supports that reading. The partnership suggests that OpenAI wants its first major consumer device to feel distinctive and carefully engineered, with an emphasis on industrial design as much as software capability.

That could be crucial in a crowded hardware market. Consumers often buy premium devices not only for what they do, but for how they look, feel, and fit into a home environment.

What are the reported moving parts?

OpenAI has not explained what the moving parts are for, and Bloomberg’s report leaves that detail vague.

Still, the mention is intriguing because it implies the hardware may include physical motion to support interaction, privacy, or some kind of visual feedback. Until OpenAI reveals more, the purpose of those elements remains one of the most unusual unanswered questions around the product.

If the device really does include animated components, that would set it apart from nearly all mainstream smart speakers, which usually rely on lights, buttons, and sound rather than mechanical movement.

How does the timeline look?

The reported release window points to 2027, suggesting the product is still in development and not yet close to launch.

That timeline also indicates OpenAI is likely moving cautiously. Consumer hardware typically requires long testing cycles, especially when the device depends on AI performance, voice reliability, and a strong supply chain.

OpenAI’s reported schedule may also reflect the complexity of combining hardware, software, and design into a product that can stand alongside offerings from more established consumer-electronics companies.

How does this compare with other smart speakers?

OpenAI’s reported pricing would make the device one of the more expensive entries in the smart speaker category.

Amazon has effectively set the baseline for mass-market smart speakers, with devices that are often sold at modest prices and integrated deeply into the company’s ecosystem. Google has also built a strong presence with similar products. Those devices are generally designed to be affordable enough that households can buy more than one.

By contrast, a $300 to $400 OpenAI product would need to offer more than voice commands and music playback. To win buyers, it would likely need to demonstrate smarter conversational abilities, more useful context awareness, or a more compelling role as a household assistant.

What premium buyers might expect

A consumer paying that much would probably expect:

• more natural conversational responses than a standard speaker assistant;
• better support for multi-step tasks and household planning;
• a polished physical design that feels like a luxury device;
• stronger usefulness than simply answering questions or playing music.

If OpenAI cannot deliver on several of those points, the device could struggle to justify its price.

What does the Apple lawsuit mean for the launch?

OpenAI’s hardware ambitions are unfolding while the company is dealing with legal claims from Apple, which has accused the AI lab of misusing trade secrets. OpenAI has denied the allegations.

The dispute matters because it highlights how closely connected the AI and hardware worlds have become. OpenAI is not just building software; it is moving into a category historically dominated by firms that control hardware, manufacturing, and user ecosystems.

Legal challenges can also complicate product development by creating uncertainty around design partnerships, talent movement, and public perception. Even if the suit does not stop the device, it adds another layer of scrutiny to an already ambitious project.

Bloomberg’s report says the product is being developed with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by Jony Ive, and that the device is expected to reach consumers in 2027. OpenAI has not publicly detailed the final design or pricing.

Why a ChatGPT speaker could still struggle

OpenAI may be betting that people want a conversational AI device at the center of the home, but history shows that smart speakers can be difficult to turn into durable businesses.

The category has long been shaped by convenience, low cost, and familiarity. Most households already know what a speaker assistant does. The challenge for OpenAI is to convince buyers that its version is not just another voice box, but a genuinely new computing experience.

That will likely require better context, more reliable action-taking, and a reason to keep the device nearby at all times. If the hardware does not change daily behavior in a meaningful way, the premium pricing may become its biggest obstacle.

Possible reasons the market may be tough

Several factors could make the product harder to sell than OpenAI hopes:

1. Price sensitivity: Consumers are used to cheaper speakers and may hesitate to spend hundreds of dollars.
2. Category fatigue: Many homes already have voice assistants or no longer rely heavily on them.
3. Expectation gap: AI hardware will be judged against a hype cycle that promises a lot.
4. Competition: Amazon, Google, and Apple already shape the smart-home landscape.

Those hurdles do not make success impossible, but they do mean OpenAI will need a well-executed launch and a product that feels distinctly smarter than the alternatives.

What happens next?

For now, the most important thing is that OpenAI’s hardware project appears to be moving from rumor toward a definable consumer product with a premium identity, a possible price tag, and a tentative launch window.

More details will likely emerge over the next year or two about the device’s voice capabilities, software features, and how much of ChatGPT it can actually deliver in a home setting. The real test will be whether OpenAI can translate the excitement around generative AI into a product that people are willing to keep on their kitchen counters and bedside tables.

If it succeeds, the company could establish a new class of AI hardware. If it fails, the device may become another example of how hard it is to turn smart-assistant buzz into a profitable consumer product.

Key facts at a glance

• Product: Reported OpenAI smart speaker
• Shape: Donut-like and portable
• Materials: High-quality metal
• Price: $300 to $400
• Release window: Possibly 2027
• Design partner: LoveFrom, founded by Jony Ive
• Competitive context: Much pricier than typical Amazon smart speakers
• Legal backdrop: Apple has sued OpenAI; OpenAI denies wrongdoing

FAQ

What is OpenAI’s new smart speaker?

OpenAI’s new smart speaker is reportedly a premium AI device meant to serve as a physical version of ChatGPT. It is expected to be portable, donut-shaped, and designed for use around the home rather than as a stationary speaker alone.

How much will the OpenAI smart speaker cost?

The OpenAI smart speaker is reportedly expected to cost between $300 and $400. That would put it well above most mainstream smart speakers and position it as a high-end consumer AI gadget.

When could OpenAI release the device?

OpenAI could release the device in 2027, according to the latest reporting. That suggests the product is still under development and likely needs substantial work before reaching consumers.

Why is OpenAI making hardware?

OpenAI appears to be making hardware to bring ChatGPT into everyday life more directly. A dedicated device could give the company a stronger presence in homes and help it control the user experience beyond apps and browsers.

Who is helping design the device?

OpenAI is reportedly working with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by Jony Ive. That partnership suggests the company wants a highly polished consumer product with strong emphasis on industrial design.