Details have leaked about OpenAI's new hardware, and by all accounts, it's going to be shaped and sized a lot like a second-generation Alexa Dot, be battery-powered, and retail for between $300 and $400.
The rumor mill has been loaded with rumors about OpenAI's hardware. A new accounting of the device says it will be a smart speaker without a display.
Furthermore, it is rumored to be about the same size as a hockey puck, like the second-generation Echo Dot pictured above, and donut-shaped. It is also said to include parts that will move on their own, to assist with responding to a user. Somehow.
According to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, OpenAI expects users to use the device as an AI assistant during the day, similar to ChatGPT voice on the iPhone. It is expected to have more advanced models, but what that means isn't clear.
Like the Echo family of products, it is expected to learn about the user over time.
Like the HomePod, and as expected for a voice AI assistant, the device will have speaker grills and microphones for conversation. Most importantly, perhaps, and setting it apart from the HomePod, it will be battery-powered, and maybe able to be used hand-held.
But it is expected to have a camera to feed visual information into ChatGPT, or whatever OpenAI calls the model on the device.
Thursday's report cites sources familiar with the matter in saying that the device will refute allegations of abuse of Apple's trade secrets. It's not entirely clear how, given that the same sources say the device will have upscale materials and high-quality metal.
OpenAI is said to have investigated Apple's IP use in this product with an internal probe following the lawsuit. It's only been four weeks since that suit was filed, on a Friday. That assessment timeline feels very quick for a complete technology stack assessment of a product which is apparently close to shipping.
Similar assessments over Samsung's smartphone design in that omnibus trial with Apple took months to complete.
And, presumably, that high-quality metal has to be finished. A highlight of the first filed legal document by Apple launching the suit is allegations of theft of a metal finishing technique. A different donut-like shape certainly doesn't preclude the possibility of IP theft.
The device in question is said to have been designed in collaboration with LoveFrom. Notably, Jony Ive, founder of LoveFrom, has not been named in the OpenAI IP theft suit.
And the device is supposed to launch a new line of devices. Release dates aren't clear for this product, nor any other hardware shipping from the company.
