OpenAI is preparing a donut-shaped speaker for 2027

An Innovative Speaker Expected by 2027

OpenAI, known for its advancements in artificial intelligence, plans to launch a smart speaker by 2027. A report indicates that this device will stand out due to its unique donut shape and compact size, comparable to that of a hockey puck. This wireless design is intended to offer optimal portability, allowing users to carry it easily.

The report, based on information from anonymous sources close to the project, suggests that this speaker could be priced between $300 and $400. This price range places it in a higher category than most smart speakers, which typically sell for between $100 and $200, except for high-end models like those from Bose and Sonos. The device is expected to function similarly to ChatGPT on a smartphone, but with more advanced models capable of learning and adapting to user preferences for a personalized interaction.

A spokesperson for OpenAI has yet to respond to requests for comments on this information.

Advanced Features and Legal Challenges

The report also highlights that the speaker will feature moving parts, a characteristic usually reserved for visual interfaces. It will incorporate indicator lights, as well as a camera system and sensors to analyze its environment and enhance its interaction with the user.

However, OpenAI may face legal challenges before making this device available to the public. Last month, Apple filed a lawsuit against the AI company, accusing it of stealing confidential information regarding product design and development. Apple claims that OpenAI has encouraged manufacturers to mimic the metallic finish of its products. The design of OpenAI's speaker was created with the help of the studio LoveFrom, founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive. OpenAI also acquired IO, a startup created by Ive, specializing in tech devices, last year.

Apple is also working on its own AI-integrated home devices. A first series of these products could be launched as early as this fall, leveraging the new capabilities of Siri.

Competition and Privacy Concerns

The latest speaker model from Google, focused on Gemini for Home, is an example of the fierce competition in this sector. Although compact, it does not reach the size of a hockey puck. Smart speakers like Amazon's Echo and Echo Show, equipped with Alexa Plus, already offer advanced features such as adapting to user habits, ordering food, and managing conversations.

OpenAI's speaker is described as being the size of a hockey puck, which could pose challenges in terms of sound quality, battery life, and responsiveness.

Finally, manufacturers of AI devices must contend with growing privacy concerns. These worries are exacerbated by the increasing popularity of technologies like smart glasses and video doorbells, which raise questions about surveillance and the protection of personal data.

• (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, the parent company of CNET, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in 2025, accusing it of infringing Ziff Davis's copyright in the training and operation of its AI systems.)