OpenAI is preparing to unveil its first hardware product in the second half of 2026, marking a major step beyond software and services. The company has not promised a retail launch this year, but the plan signals that its long-discussed move into devices is becoming concrete. At the same time, the internal design group working with Jony Ive continues to take shape, with a notable hire from Apple strengthening the effort.
Speaking at Axios House in Davos, OpenAI policy chief Chris Lehane said the company is “on track” to unveil its first device in the latter half of 2026. He stopped short of confirming sales this year, explaining that OpenAI was “looking at something in the latter part [of 2026].” The message was cautious but clear. An announcement appears more likely than a full launch.
This timeline fits earlier industry expectations that placed a commercial release closer to 2027. Even so, an official reveal next year would offer the first real look at what OpenAI has been building behind closed doors.
OpenAI is saying publicly
According to reporting by Axios journalists Ina Fried and Dave Lawler, Lehane framed “devices” as one of OpenAI’s major priorities for 2026. He told Fried he would have more to share “much later in the year,” while declining to discuss form factors or features.
Earlier hints from leadership point toward something intentionally simple. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said the device will feel more “peaceful” than a smartphone and that users will be surprised by how minimal it is. Reports continue to suggest a small, screen-free product, possibly wearable and focused heavily on audio.
The Jony Ive connection
The hardware push traces back to May, when Altman announced a collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive and his design firm LoveFrom. At the time, Ive’s startup, then known as io, teased a 2026 reveal, promising to “share our work with you next year.”
Development has since moved forward. The partners recently confirmed that a prototype is already built, even as the broader product family remains under wraps.
An Apple veteran joins the team
Adding momentum to the effort, engineer and interface designer Janum Trivedi has joined the OpenAI and LoveFrom design group to work on ‘io’ products. Trivedi previously worked on core system features at Apple, including Split View, multitasking drag and drop, and pointer gestures introduced with iPadOS 15.
The hire reinforces OpenAI’s intent to pair advanced AI models with strong interface design, rather than treating hardware as an afterthought.
There are still more questions than answers. Lehane would not say whether the device takes the form of a pin, an earpiece, or something else entirely. Recent reporting from The Information adds another clue, noting that OpenAI has been strengthening its audio models ahead of a likely audio-first product.
For now, the picture is coming into focus slowly. OpenAI is aiming for a 2026 unveiling, not a rushed launch. The design team is growing. The prototypes exist. The rest will come, as Lehane put it, “much later in the year.”
