OpenAI Signs Deal with Apple Supplier to Push AI Hardware, Expects Launch in Late 2026 or Early 2027

OpenAI has signed a deal with Apple’s key supplier Luxshare Precision to produce its first consumer device, according to people familiar with the matter. The move highlights the ChatGPT maker’s ambition to extend beyond software into AI-native hardware and directly challenge the dominance of smartphones and traditional consumer electronics.

The device, still in the prototype stage, is designed to be pocket-sized and context-aware, working seamlessly with OpenAI’s large language models. Sources said it resembles a smart speaker without a display, while other concepts under discussion include AI-powered glasses, digital recorders, and wearable badges. The company aims to release its first product by late 2026 or early 2027.

Luxshare, Apple’s assembler for iPhones and AirPods, is expected to provide large-scale manufacturing support. OpenAI has also held talks with Goertek, another Apple supplier, to source components such as speaker modules for the new device.

Earlier this year, OpenAI acquired hardware startup io Products, founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal. The acquisition underscores its determination to build original consumer devices rather than rely on existing platforms such as smartphones or PCs.

To accelerate its hardware vision, OpenAI has been actively recruiting from Apple, luring design and supply chain talent with generous pay packages. Insiders noted that beyond compensation, OpenAI’s hardware chief Tang Tan — who spent 25 years at Apple leading design efforts — has convinced recruits by emphasizing the company’s less bureaucratic and more collaborative culture compared to their current employer.

Industry analysts see this initiative as OpenAI’s boldest hardware push yet, with the potential to carve out space in a market long dominated by Apple, Samsung, and Google. If successful, the device could redefine how users interact with AI and establish OpenAI as a serious contender in consumer electronics.