OpenAI Plans Donut-Shaped Smart Speaker for 2027 at $300-$400; Apple Sues Over Trade Secrets

OpenAI is accelerating development of its first consumer hardware product. The smart speaker has a donut-shaped design about the size of a hockey puck, with a planned launch in 2027 and a price range of $300 to $400. Designed by the studio LoveFrom, the device uses high-end metal materials and includes built-in cameras and sensors, with the ability to learn user habits and engage in human-like interaction.

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI over trade secret infringement and this week applied for an injunction. In its complaint, Apple alleges that OpenAI steered a longtime Apple supplier to develop a metal polishing process similar to Apple's for the new product, leading the supplier to believe it had Apple's authorization. OpenAI denies any infringement and has filed a motion to dismiss the case. In a letter to Apple's legal representatives, OpenAI's lawyers described the action as "an attack on ordinary business practices," attributing the situation to Apple's own procedures and decisions. After Apple's lawsuit, OpenAI launched an internal investigation and concluded that the product does not use or infringe Apple's trade secrets.

The device has a ring-shaped profile with autonomously moving mechanical parts that indicate response status. It also includes a speaker grille, microphone, camera system and environmental sensors, along with an indicator light showing when it is listening. The battery-powered device can be held in hand, placed on a bedside table or positioned on a kitchen countertop. OpenAI says the device's AI capabilities will surpass its current voice mode on smartphone apps, allowing it to build knowledge of the user over time and deliver more personalised conversations.

The device is being developed jointly by Jony Ive and OpenAI. Ive previously led the design of the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch. In 2025, OpenAI acquired a device startup co-founded by Ive, bringing its team in-house. OpenAI plans to price the device at between $300 and $400, above most smart speakers on the market but below the price of a standard iPhone. OpenAI describes it as an "AI-centric computer," aiming to distinguish it in visual style and functional positioning from the Amazon Echo and Google Nest lines. Over the longer term, OpenAI plans to roll out a full hardware product family, viewing the smart speaker as the entry point into the market.