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OpenAI isn’t just focused on strengthening its chatbot — it’s also setting its sights on the physical product space. More specifically, AI-powered devices designed to challenge the tools we already rely on from rival tech companies.
The company signaled those ambitions last year with its acquisition of io Products, Inc., a device startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, in a deal reportedly worth around $6.5 billion. The move made one thing clear: OpenAI wants to build “physical AI,” not just software.
Since then, tech watchers have been waiting to see what the OpenAI–io partnership would produce first. While the company hasn’t officially revealed its debut device, a recent leak may have offered an early glimpse at what OpenAI has in the works.
OpenAI’s first AI-powered device is codenamed “Sweetpea”
Hearing fresh detail on Openai "To-go" hardware project from last report. Now confirmed it is a special audio product to replace Airpod, internal code name is "Sweetpea"On manufacturing, Foxconn has been told to prepare for total 5 devices by Q4 2028. All not known but a home… https://t.co/svOCBuyapI pic.twitter.com/SFumFfRIeFJanuary 12, 2026
Consumer electronics blogger @zhihuipikachu shared a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter) outlining what’s said to be an upcoming AI-powered audio device codenamed “Sweetpea.” According to the leak, the device is being positioned as a legitimate competitor to Apple’s AirPods.
Sweetpea appears to be a high-priority product for the ChatGPT–io partnership, with early details emerging around its design and capabilities. The leak describes a “unique, never-before-seen” metal design reminiscent of an eggstone, a 2nm smartphone-class chip powering the device and a custom processor designed to let Sweetpea “replace iPhone actions by commanding Siri.”
Taken together, those details suggest Sweetpea is intended to be more than just another pair of wireless earbuds. The post also claims the device could arrive as early as September, with projected first-year production volumes of 40–50 million units.
Beyond Sweetpea, the leak makes another bold assertion: Foxconn has reportedly been tasked with producing five prototype devices ahead of a planned fourth-quarter 2028 launch. These prototypes are said to include not only the AI-powered audio hardware, but also a pen and a home-style device that are currently under consideration.
Sam Altman and Jony Ive have set out to build a new generation of AI hardware
Based on the quotes provided by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his partner Ive, it's clear that they want to push the world of AI forward through the creation of physical tools that fulfill their mission.
In a joint statement given in a letter posted on the day of the tech alliance’s announcement, Altman and Ive noted that they’ve “gathered together the best hardware and software engineers, the best technologists, physicists, scientists, researchers and experts in product development and manufacturing” to create their AI devices.
The letter went on to state how their “new team, focused on developing products that inspire, empower and enable, will now merge with OpenAI to work more intimately with the research, engineering and product teams in San Francisco.”
Bottom line
We’re going to be waiting a while to see OpenAI, io, and Foxconn’s work on these devices result in finished products. At least we’ve gotten early word on their proposed rival to Apple’s AirPods and the two other AI devices it’s rumored to be working on.
The idea of Sweetpea offering iPhone-like functionality through a custom chip — while still issuing commands to Siri — is genuinely exciting. Could OpenAI really deliver a pair of earbuds capable of rivaling, or even replacing, Apple’s go-to audio companion?
We’ll be watching closely and will share updates as more details emerge.
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