OpenAI is developing a new artificial intelligence‑powered wearable device designed to compete with Apple’s AirPods, according to a report on Wednesday citing people familiar with the matter.
The device, internally codenamed “Sweetpea”, is expected to support functions such as making phone calls and playing audio, the sources told Titan Media App. The report said Foxconn has been instructed to prepare for production of five different devices, including earbuds and a touch‑enabled stylus, but that Sweetpea will be prioritised.
Details on the product’s features, launch timeline and pricing remain unclear. It was also not immediately known whether OpenAI plans to sell the device directly under its own brand or through hardware partners.
OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
The move, if realised, would mark an expansion of OpenAI’s efforts to bring its generative AI technology into consumer hardware, extending beyond software and cloud‑based services. Apple’s AirPods, a leading product in the global wireless earbuds market, have increasingly incorporated advanced features such as spatial audio and tight integration with the company’s AI capabilities.
The report comes as technology companies worldwide are racing to develop AI‑enabled devices that integrate large‑language models and other machine‑learning tools at the edge, enabling more natural and context‑aware interactions with users.
Investors and analysts have been watching closely for signs that AI developers are moving into hardware, a shift that could open new revenue streams but also bring challenges in production, distribution and support.
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