OpenAI's first smart device under preparation is known to be under discussion at about $300 to $400 per unit.

On Aug. 6 local time, foreign media including IT outlet 9to5Mac reported that Bloomberg said OpenAI's first device is being developed as a portable speaker using high-end metal materials.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (마크 거먼) reported that the product is being developed with former Apple designer Jony Ive (조니 아이브) and is effectively a smart speaker without a display. It has a built-in battery and a donut shape, about the size of a hockey puck. It is designed to be carried around the home in one hand. Its usage is similar to Amazon's discontinued speaker, Tap.

The device will also include a camera, lighting and various sensors. It is said to be designed to operate from different locations, such as being held in the user's hand or placed on furniture at home. It also includes mechanical elements that move on their own. The idea is to express the device's state of responding to or interacting with the user through that movement. OpenAI's concept is to use this to make the product feel "as if it is alive," rather than being an object that simply reacts to commands.

The voice interface is intended to work similarly to the recently revamped ChatGPT voice mode, while applying a more advanced model to create interaction that feels like talking with a person. That means it is closer to an artificial intelligence (AI) terminal centered on voice and sensing functions, rather than a screen-centric device.

The price point, above $300, also stands out. OpenAI is known to have discussed applying a premium exterior and using high-end materials such as high-quality metal. A form intended to be kept close and used throughout the day is also included in the development direction. This means it is aiming at a higher price range rather than an entry-level product, starting with its first hardware.

OpenAI is developing about 5 products and plans to launch this speaker as its first product. The device is structured to serve as the starting point for OpenAI's device lineup in preparation. The company is said to be considering a schedule to unveil the product within this year and release it in 2027.

The timeline is fluid, however. Apple has filed a lawsuit alleging that trade secrets taken by former employees were used in OpenAI's hardware development, and the launch timing could change depending on the outcome.

On the same day the reports came out, OpenAI asked a court to dismiss Apple's lawsuit. The company countered that Apple failed to specify concrete trade secrets and did not convincingly present improper conduct by OpenAI. It also argued that Apple took routine actions out of context to make an issue of them, and claimed the complaint was "filed without sufficient investigation."

Bloomberg noted that the product form known so far is far from a device Apple was close to releasing. Gurman also reported that the product will be completely different from Apple products in both appearance and feel of use. Still, plans to use premium metal materials could partially overlap with manufacturing-related claims in Apple's lawsuit. It is not yet clear whether those claims refer to this device, another product, or a discarded concept.

Ultimately, OpenAI's first device has become an issue where the company's hardware expansion direction and its legal dispute with Apple intersect, beyond merely unveiling a new product. Whether the announced timeline will hold, and what kind of user experience it will concretely build around a voice-centric AI device, are key.