OpenAI and Jony Ive’s AI device is a doughnut-shaped smart speaker without a screen

The long-rumored AI hardware collaboration between OpenAI and former Apple design chief Jony Ive is reportedly taking shape as a doughnut-shaped smart speaker without a display. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the device is roughly the size of a hockey puck, battery-powered, and designed to be easily carried around the home with one hand — evoking the form factor of Amazon’s discontinued Tap speaker.

The device, expected to launch in 2027 at a price above $300, will reportedly feature a unique look with moving parts, some of which will move on their own to signal when the device is responding or interacting with the user. It will also include lights, a camera system, and other sensors. Gurman’s sources describe it as working similarly to ChatGPT’s voice mode on smartphones, but with more advanced models for humanlike interactivity.

Despite the involvement of Ive, the device is said to look and feel nothing like an Apple product — a notable distinction given the ongoing legal disputes between OpenAI and Apple. The speaker could be the first in a “family of devices” OpenAI has planned, though details are likely to evolve significantly before its eventual release.

For developers, this is a signal that OpenAI is serious about moving beyond the browser and app, betting on dedicated hardware as the next interface for AI. The emphasis on humanlike interactivity and proactive movement suggests a push toward more ambient, embodied AI — a trend that could reshape how we think about voice interfaces and agentic systems. Whether the device will actually stand out in a market littered with failed AI gadgets remains an open question, but the combination of OpenAI’s models and Ive’s design pedigree makes it one to watch.