OpenAI aims to ship its first device in 2026, and it could be earbuds

OpenAI's first hardware device carries the whimsical codename "Sweet Pea" and could arrive as a pair of AI-powered earbuds later this year. The company's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane confirmed at Davos that OpenAI remains on track to announce its inaugural hardware product in the second half of 2026. Unlike traditional earbuds, these would reportedly run on a cutting-edge 2-nanometer processor and handle artificial intelligence tasks locally rather than relying on cloud connections. CEO Sam Altman previously hinted the device would be more "peaceful and calm" than smartphones, suggesting a screen-free, pocketable design.

OpenAI is eyeing ambitious sales targets of 40 to 50 million units in the first year, with manufacturing partnerships under consideration between China's Luxshare and Taiwan's Foxconn. The move reflects OpenAI's desire to control distribution of its AI assistant beyond relying on other platforms, despite ChatGPT's nearly one billion weekly users. The challenge ahead is significant, given the graveyard of failed AI devices like the Humane AI Pin, though Meta's successful Ray-Ban smart glasses offer hope for wearable AI integration.