At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, the speculation officially ended. OpenAI has confirmed that its highly anticipated consumer hardware device, designed in collaboration with legendary former Apple design chief Jony Ive, is on track for a release in the second half of 2026. The announcement, made by OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane at Axios House, marks the AI giant's definitive entry into the consumer electronics market, aiming to deliver a "shockingly simple" alternative to the smartphone era.
A "Peaceful" Rebellion Against Screens
The confirmation at Davos provided the first concrete timeline for a project that has been shrouded in secrecy since OpenAI acquired Ive’s hardware startup, io Products, for a reported $6.5 billion in May 2025. While specific product reveals are being held for later this year, the vision shared in Switzerland is distinct: a move away from the dopamine-driven notification culture of modern smartphones.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, has described the upcoming hardware as "peaceful," contrasting it with the chaotic experience of using today’s mobile devices. The device is confirmed to be screenless, relying heavily on advanced voice-first interfaces and ambient computing. The goal is not to replace the smartphone entirely but to establish a "third core device" alongside your phone and laptop—one that allows users to remain present in the real world while accessing the full power of OpenAI’s models.
Project "Sweetpea" and the Ambient Future
Industry insiders and supply chain leaks have pointed to the internal codename "Sweetpea" for at least one iteration of the device. Reports suggest a form factor that could be a discrete wearable or audio-focused pod, potentially featuring a custom 2-nanometer processor capable of processing complex AI tasks locally to reduce latency. Unlike the failed AI gadgets of 2024 and 2025, such as the Humane AI Pin or Rabbit R1, OpenAI’s device aims to succeed through deep contextual awareness and Jony Ive’s signature minimalist design philosophy.
The device is expected to leverage a new class of multimodal AI that understands environmental context through audio and possibly non-intrusive camera sensors. By stripping away the screen, Ive and Altman are betting that the next generation of computing will be defined by what you don't look at, creating a seamless bridge between human intention and digital action.
The "io" Team and LoveFrom Collaboration
The development represents the culmination of a deep partnership between OpenAI and LoveFrom, Ive’s creative collective. The hardware team, internally referred to as the "io" team, has been aggressively hiring former Apple talent, including key figures responsible for the iPhone’s multi-touch interface. This merger of Silicon Valley’s most powerful AI models with the design minds behind the iPod and iPhone suggests a level of polish and user-centric engineering that previous AI hardware attempts sorely lacked.
Market Impact and 2026 Outlook
With a launch window set for late 2026, OpenAI is positioning this device as the flagship product for the holiday season. The tech industry is watching closely to see if OpenAI can achieve the "iPhone moment" for artificial intelligence—transforming AI from a software utility into a physical companion. Chris Lehane’s comments at Davos emphasized that while the timeline is aggressive, the company is committed to getting the user experience right, prioritizing "peaceful" utility over feature bloat.
As we approach the second half of the year, expect the trickle of leaks to turn into a flood. For now, the message from Davos is clear: the future of AI hardware isn't about bigger screens or faster scrolling—it's about disappearing into the background.
