When OpenAI acquired Jony Ive's startup io Products for $6.4 billion, few understood what exactly it was planning to produce. Now Bloomberg has answered that question — and the answer turned out to be unexpected even for the tech market.
What is this device
According to Bloomberg, OpenAI's first consumer device is a portable smart speaker without a screen. Inside: a camera, a set of sensors for analyzing the environment, a battery and — most unusually — mechanical elements that move independently. The company internally describes it as "the first of its kind computer built for AI."
The device is not confined to one room: you can carry it with you throughout the day — for example, take it from the living room to the laundry room. Voice interaction is built on GPT-Live — OpenAI's new mode for real-time conversation.
"A human-like AI companion that lives in your home"
— internal formulation by OpenAI according to Bloomberg
Over time, the speaker is expected to become increasingly personal: learning the owner's habits, reading their emails, anticipating needs before they voice them. Along the way — controlling smart devices, playing media, responding to messages.
Why moving parts
The mechanics are not a marketing trick. OpenAI wants the device to feel alive: to react physically, not just vocally. This fundamentally distinguishes it from Amazon Echo or Google Home, where interaction amounts to sound from a stationary cylinder.
This is where the trace of Jony Ive appears — the man who turned the iPhone into an object of desire through form and feel. His io Products startup was acquired by OpenAI in 2025. Several former Apple engineers have also been brought into the team.
The lawsuit overshadowing the announcement
The problem is that some of these engineers, according to Apple, brought more than just experience. Apple has sued OpenAI and io Products, accusing them of systematically stealing trade secrets — technical specifications, supplier data and details of unreleased products.
- Former Apple engineer Chang Liu moved to OpenAI in January 2026 and ignored requests for an exit interview and return of confidential materials
- OpenAI hardware director Tan Tan — former head of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch — allegedly encouraged candidates from Apple to bring "real details" to interviews for "show and tell"
- Jony Ive is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but his startup io Products is on the list
OpenAI responded briefly: "We are not interested in others' trade secrets". But the very fact of the lawsuit — even before the official device announcement — makes the future launch legally vulnerable.
In parallel, both companies — OpenAI and Anthropic — have confidentially filed IPO documents. Investors are watching: the hardware direction could be an argument for a higher valuation on the stock market. But only if the device launches without a court injunction.
If Apple proves the theft of even one key design element — will OpenAI be able to bring the speaker to market without rework that destroys the first-mover advantage?
