ChatGPT creator OpenAI may be preparing to enter consumer hardware with a device small enough to fit in a pocket.
OpenAI is developing its first edge AI hardware product under the internal codename “Gumdrop,” with early designs pointing to a pen-sized wearable or compact audio device rather than a traditional screen-based product, reports the Taiwan Economic Daily News.
The project is said to be co-designed with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, who has previously indicated that OpenAI’s first hardware device could launch within two years. Jony Ive is an iPhone design legend, and his company io Products Inc., an AI devices startup, was acquired by OpenAI for $6.4 billion in May 2025.
People familiar with the supply chain say the device is designed to be lightweight and portable, with a form factor comparable to an iPod Shuffle. The product could be worn around the neck or placed on a desk, and the device is expected to include both a microphone and a camera, allowing it to sense and interpret the user’s surroundings.
According to the report, the device is intended to function as a constant AI companion rather than a replacement smartphone. It is said to be capable of capturing and transcribing handwritten notes and uploading them directly into ChatGPT, signaling a focus on ambient computing and real-time context rather than traditional app interaction.
Manufacturing plans for the device have reportedly shifted in recent months. The project was initially slated to be produced by Luxshare but has since moved to Foxconn, which also assembles products such as the iPhone and Google Pixel. Production is expected to take place in Vietnam, with the possibility of future assembly in the United States. Sources say the move reflects OpenAI’s desire to avoid manufacturing the device in mainland China.
While technical specifications remain tightly guarded, CEO Sam Altman has previously described the hardware as “simple, beautiful, and fun,” suggesting a design philosophy closer to consumer electronics than enterprise tools.
If launched as described, the device would represent OpenAI’s first major step beyond software into consumer hardware, positioning it to compete in a new category of AI-native personal devices alongside smartphones and laptops rather than within them.
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