OpenAI is reportedly developing pen-shaped AI device with microphone and camera to act as third major core device
It was only a matter of time before OpenAI tried to leverage its AI infrastructure for a hardware device. We have seen several companies release AI consumer devices over the past few years, but none of them have made a real impact. For instance, the Humane AI Pin was a much-hyped AI device that aimed to serve as a day-to-day companion gadget used for tasks like real-time translations, navigation, etc.
However, less than a year into the launch of the Humane AI Pin, the product was discontinued due to extremely poor feedback, and Humane’s assets were acquired by HP. OpenAI’s rumored device is said to be the same type of product as the Humane AI Pin.
OpenAI’s first consumer device, allegedly codenamed “Gumdrop”, will reportedly feature a small, pen-shaped design comparable in size to an iPod Shuffle. Legendary ex-Apple designer Jony Ive is reportedly a co-designer.
The device is expected to integrate a camera and a microphone. So, aside from voice commands, the device is said to be able to convert handwritten notes into digital text and upload them to ChatGPT. Taiwan Economic Daily (via Jukan on X) reports that Chinese firm Luxshare was the initial choice for contract manufacturing of the device. However, OpenAI seemingly didn’t want the manufacturing to take place in mainland China. So, the company has decided to employ Foxconn to produce the AI wearable in the US or Vietnam.
Finally, Taiwan Economic Daily reports that OpenAI’s first AI device is still in the design phase and could launch in 2026 or 2027.
Third core device or a reality scraper?
OpenAI’s first foray into consumer tech is seemingly the AI giant’s effort to establish a “third major core device” alongside the iPhone and the MacBook. However, one must ask here: What can OpenAI’s AI companion device do that an iPhone can’t?
If we think about it, a regular smartphone, whether an Android phone or an iPhone, can do almost everything that AI devices like the doomed Humane AI Pin or Rabbit R1 can. Consumers know this, which is why these AI devices haven’t really taken off.
Keeping this in mind, a more fun explanation is that OpenAI’s Gumdrop AI device might be a “reality scrapper” disguised as a wearable consumer device. We already know that AI companies are scrambling to get their hands on more data to train Large Language Models (LLMs). After consuming almost all human-generated organic data, some companies are turning to synthetic data to train their models, which gives rise to a whole host of potential issues.
So, OpenAI might use the AI device to analyze the real world or “scrape reality” to generate more data for its LLMs.
That said, this is just some fun speculation on our part. OpenAI’s ultimate goal with the AI device could simply be to offer a new wearable that users can carry in addition to a traditional smartphone.
Source(s)
Taiwan Econimic Daily (Chinese), Jukan on X
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