It’s no secret that OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is losing money at a rapid clip. Some estimates suggest the company will run out of cash sometime in 2027 — and even a possible $100 billion investment round won’t keep the lights on for long.
What might help? A new product — specifically, one designed by Sir Jony Ive, the Apple veteran brought on board last May at a cost of $6.5 billion — assuming it can launch while the company still has cash in the bank. Despite multiple setbacks, OpenAI has said Ive’s first product will be announced this year, even as they’re staying tight-lipped about what it actually is.
Now The Information says it has the details on that first launch: An AI-powered smart speaker with a facial recognition camera built in. Reportedly, it will cost between $200 and $300. But — and given the situation, this is a huge but — we won’t get to see it until Feb. 2027 at the earliest.
The camera will “allow people to buy things by identifying them with a facial recognition feature similar to Apple’s Face ID,” members of the company’s 200-employee strong AI device group told the site. Whether facial recognition will facilitate the sign-in process or be used to actually purchase products (blink once for coffee maker, blink twice for frother?), is not yet clear.
Mashable Light Speed
A smart speaker may not be the most inspiring product an AI company could dream up, but others are supposedly on the way. AI glasses are next, according to the report, but “likely won’t be ready for mass production until 2028.” An AI-powered smart lamp is also in the works. There’s no word on another rumored OpenAI product — smart earbuds.
OpenAI may Sell $300 Smart Speaker with Camera – in 2027
The Future of Smart Speakers: OpenAI’s Bold New Step
OpenAI is preparing to disrupt the smart speaker market onc again with plans to launch a cutting-edge AI-powered smart speaker priced at around $300. What sets this device apart is its integrated camera with facial recognition capabilities, scheduled for release in 2027. This move places OpenAI ahead of contemporaries like Meta and Apple, who are accelerating their own AI device rollouts.
Combining OpenAI’s prowess in artificial intelligence with innovative hardware design, the new smart speaker promises to reshape how users interact with AI assistants in their homes.
Key Features of the OpenAI smart speaker with Camera
The upcoming OpenAI smart speaker is packed with advanced capabilities designed to enhance user experience and privacy in unique ways:
- On-Board Camera with Facial Recognition: Tailored to personalize responses, tailor user settings, and add an additional layer of security.
- Seamless AI Interaction: Enables smoother natural language understanding and multi-modal interaction powered by OpenAI’s latest models.
- Compact, Sleek Design: Designed by Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive, ensuring the device not only performs well but looks great in any room.
- Privacy Controls: Users can control when the camera and microphone are active, with transparent feedback for peace of mind.
- Multi-Device Ecosystem: Designed to work in concert with other AI-powered devices OpenAI plans to launch, including AR glasses and wearable pins.
How OpenAI’s Smart Speaker Compares to Competitors
| Feature | OpenAI Smart Speaker | Meta’s Smart Speaker | Apple HomePod |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2027 | 2026-2027 (Projected) | Available |
| Camera | Yes,with facial recognition | Yes,AR capabilities | No |
| AI Integration | OpenAI GPT-native | Meta AI-based | Siri,apple AI |
| Price | ~$300 | Unknown | $299-$349 |
| Design | Designed by Jony ive | Standard | Apple Minimalist |
Benefits of OpenAI’s Smart Speaker with Camera
the infusion of facial recognition and AI coalesces to provide numerous practical benefits for the end user:
- Personalized Smart Home Experience: Recognizes who is speaking and customizes playlists,calendar info,or smart home controls accordingly.
- Enhanced Security: Facial recognition adds a biometric authentication layer for sensitive commands or purchases.
- Improved Communication: The camera can assist with video calls, enabling a more immersive interaction without needing a separate device.
- Hands-Free Control: Advanced voice recognition combined with camera awareness means fewer repeated commands for more intuitive interaction.
- Eco-kind, Efficient Design: Optimized AI reduces unnecessary data processing and enhances battery life for accompanying smart devices.
Practical Tips for Using the OpenAI Smart Speaker
- Set up facial recognition with privacy settings activated to control who can interact with your speaker.
- Integrate the device with smart home hubs to automate lighting, temperature, and security systems using AI gestures and voice commands.
- Use the speaker’s camera feature to monitor shared spaces for family safety alerts and real-time notifications.
- Leverage OpenAI’s natural language processing for hands-free reminders,task management,and creative brainstorming.
The Role of Jony Ive in Device Design
The collaboration with Jony Ive, Apple’s legendary former design chief, is a major advantage. ive’s expertise ensures a minimalist and elegant finish that blends perfectly into modern smart homes, balancing aesthetic appeal with functionality. Expect premium build quality and a design language that is both futuristic and intuitive.
OpenAI Smart Speaker in the Context of Upcoming AI Devices
OpenAI’s smart speaker is the flagship device in a broader ecosystem reportedly launching in 2026-2027, including:
- AI-powered wearable AR glasses
- Voice recorders enhanced with AI transcription and summarization
- Innovative wearable pins serving as discreet smart companions
This entire product family reflects OpenAI’s ambition to integrate AI deeper into everyday life, creating a seamless and adaptive user environment across devices.
Potential Challenges and Privacy Considerations
While the integration of a camera and facial recognition unlocks many new features, it also raises understandable privacy and security concerns among consumers:
- Data Protection: How OpenAI handles biometric data will be critical to user trust.
- Camera Activation Control: Clear feedback and easy toggling mechanisms to ensure the camera is only active when desired.
- Regulatory Compliance: anticipated need to satisfy international privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA.
OpenAI’s Approach to Privacy
Reports suggest OpenAI is prioritizing openness, with design elements to reassure users about when and how data is captured and used. This is pivotal to mass adoption, especially in privacy-sensitive markets.
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Will the smart speaker generate enough enthusiasm (and pre-orders) to keep the company afloat? To answer that, you have to wonder whether people really want a speaker with a camera that can scan their face in their living room. Apple might be more likely to get away with the creepiness factor of that — after all, the iPhone maker constantly emphasizes its privacy features, and its business model doesn’t include selling ads.
But OpenAI does sell ads — and consumers are already wary of how many ads the Amazon Echo smart home device gives them. Besides, the market for AI devices is likely to be a lot more crowded in 2027, with Apple said to be working on a smart pin.
So what’s the value proposition of a smart speaker? “The device will be able to observe users through video and nudge them toward actions it believes will help them achieve their goals,” one of the Information’s sources inside the company said. “You could imagine the device observing its user staying up late the night before a big meeting and suggesting that they go to bed, for example.”
If a creepy speaker being the boss of your bedtime works for you, then OpenAI may just have a pathway to profitability. Otherwise, CEO Sam Altman may be increasingly desperate to keep the company funded. Perhaps his smart speaker with camera could also look for loose change in your couch cushions.
