OpenAI has moved closer to launching its first consumer hardware product by securing Luxshare, a key Apple supplier, as its manufacturing partner. The device, which is still in prototype development, is being built as a pocket-sized companion that uses OpenAI’s models to deliver context-aware intelligence in real time. This new step highlights a shift from conceptual design to large-scale production, signaling that OpenAI’s hardware strategy is beginning to take shape.
As reported by The Information, the company’s decision to work with Luxshare sets this project apart from earlier announcements about design collaborations. While it has long been known that Jony Ive’s team is helping shape the look and feel of the device, the addition of Luxshare provides the large-scale production expertise needed to move beyond prototypes. With experience manufacturing iPhones, AirPods, and other Apple devices, Luxshare brings the operational capacity and reliability that OpenAI will need if it wants its AI device to compete globally.
OpenAI is not limiting itself to one product concept. In addition to the pocket-sized prototype, the company has explored device ideas such as a smart speaker without a display, AI-powered glasses, a digital voice recorder, and even a wearable pin. These projects appear to target different use cases but share the common goal of delivering AI-driven interaction without relying on smartphones or traditional computing devices. The company is reportedly working toward a potential launch timeline of late 2026 or early 2027.
Beyond Luxshare, OpenAI has also approached Goertek, another key Apple supplier, to explore components such as speaker modules. This indicates that the company is building a broader supplier base rather than relying on a single partner, which could give it greater flexibility as product designs evolve. By securing relationships with multiple suppliers known for premium consumer electronics, OpenAI is attempting to replicate the kind of robust ecosystem Apple has built over decades.
The scale of OpenAI’s ambition is further reflected in its hiring strategy. Alongside Ive’s involvement, OpenAI and his design firm have recruited more than two dozen former Apple employees this year. These include Cyrus Daniel Irani, a senior leader in human interface design, Matt Theobald, who has expertise in manufacturing design, and Erik de Jong, a veteran of Apple Watch hardware development. This influx of experienced talent strengthens OpenAI’s ability to deliver hardware that can match the standards set by Apple in design, usability, and manufacturing.
While final specifications and pricing remain unknown, these developments confirm that OpenAI is taking a structured approach to building consumer devices. With Luxshare providing manufacturing support, Goertek offering component expertise, and a roster of ex-Apple designers shaping the product, the company is putting in place the foundations of a credible hardware business. The path from prototype to launch is still long, but with suppliers and talent secured, OpenAI’s first AI device is no longer just an idea on paper.
