TL;DR

OpenAI is on track to announce its first hardware device in the second half of 2026. Reports suggest it will be AI-powered earbuds codenamed “Sweet Pea,” featuring a custom 2nm processor for local AI processing, with a first-year sales target of 40 to 50 million units.

From Software to Hardware

OpenAI created significant interest in hardware after acquiring former Apple design head Jony Ive’s startup io last year. Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane confirmed at Davos that the company is on track to announce its first device in the second half of 2026.

Sam Altman has described the potential device as more “peaceful and calm” than iPhones, with earlier reporting suggesting a screen-free, pocketable form factor.

What We Know About “Sweet Pea”

Reports from Asian publications suggest the device will be earbuds with a unique design compared to existing products. Codenamed “Sweet Pea,” the earbuds would reportedly run on a custom 2-nanometre processor and handle AI tasks locally rather than sending requests to the cloud.

Manufacturing discussions have reportedly included China-based Luxshare, though OpenAI may favour Taiwan’s Foxconn. The first-year sales target of 40 to 50 million units is ambitious — roughly matching AirPods’ early annual volumes.

A Difficult Market

With nearly a billion weekly ChatGPT users, OpenAI currently relies on other companies’ devices and platforms for distribution. Own hardware would give the company more control over how its AI assistant is delivered and allow purpose-built features.

But the track record for standalone AI devices is poor. The Humane AI Pin was sold to HP. Rabbit’s device faded after initial hype. The Friend AI necklace faced backlash over its marketing. Replacing established products like AirPods will require strong operating system integration — something OpenAI will need to negotiate with Apple and Google.