OpenAI is reportedly pushing for a consumer hardware device that aims to take over the market left behind by Apple’s AirPods.
Pseudonymous tech blogger Smart Pikachu, who boasts over 600,000 Weibo followers, says the device is being prioritized by the Jony Ive team and is positioned as a replacement for AirPods, with other form factors like a home-style device and a pen still under consideration.
Smart Pikachu says Foxconn (FXC) has been told to prepare for multiple devices by the fourth quarter of 2028, and suggests the audio product is now first in line for development and manufacturing planning.
“Hearing fresh details on OpenAI’s ‘To-go’ hardware project from the last report. Now confirmed, it is a special audio product to replace AirPods. Internal code name is ‘Sweetpea.’
On manufacturing, Foxconn has been told to prepare for a total of 5 devices by Q4 2028… Many sources repeated same thing: Sweetpea is now front of the line due to the priority of Jony Ive’s team. The release has been told to be near September, volume projection 40-50 million for the first year.”
On design, the post describes a main metal “eggstone” device that contains two capsule-like components that can be removed and rest behind the ear.
On silicon, the pseudonymous blogger claims the processor target is a two-nanometer smartphone-class chip, with Samsung’s Exynos described as “most favored,” alongside work on a custom chip.
Smart Pikachu says the device is intended to replicate some phone tasks by voice command, even claiming it could “replace iPhone actions by commanding Siri,” though it does not provide evidence for how such integration would work.
“FXC leaders still embarrassed by losing all AirPods programs to Lux. Now they see a golden chance to win back this category.”
None of the claims are supported with documents or on-the-record confirmation, and the details should be treated as unverified leak chatter until OpenAI or supply chain partners publicly validate them.
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