OpenAI is branching out in a new direction this year, moving past software and into consumer hardware. The company is staying quiet on specifics, but reports point to its first product being a set of AI-powered earbuds, reportedly codenamed “Sweetpea.”
Speaking with Axios at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, confirmed the plans. He said the device is one of the company’s highest priorities and is still scheduled to launch in the second half of the year.
Although Lehane offered no additional specifics, Taiwan’s Economic Daily has reported further details. The outlet says OpenAI is planning a global release in September 2026, with Foxconn overseeing manufacturing in Vietnam and first-year sales projected at 40 to 50 million units.
Rumors surfaced earlier this month after tipster Smart Pikachu said the earbuds would use a 2-nanometer Samsung Exynos chip for limited on-device AI, with most processing still handled in the cloud.
The hardware push builds on OpenAI’s high-profile acquisition last May of an AI startup co-founded by Jony Ive, the former chief designer at Apple. The deal was reportedly valued at $6.5 billion, and OpenAI has since confirmed it is working with Ive on several AI-focused devices planned for release over the coming years.
Reports suggest that alongside “Sweetpea,” OpenAI is developing a second consumer device under the codename “Gumdrop.” The device is described as featuring sensors, cameras, and microphones for greater contextual awareness and is expected to be a pocketable product rather than a wearable.
Even as it expands into consumer hardware, OpenAI continues to prioritize its core software business, with ChatGPT remaining central to its strategy. The company recently announced plans to introduce an AI-driven age estimation system that would automatically apply content safeguards when a user is identified as a minor.
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