OpenAI pushes audio-first hardware as Silicon Valley pivots from screens

OpenAI has combined several engineering, product and research teams to rebuild its audio models as it prepares an audio-first personal device expected to launch in about a year, according to reporting by The Information. The company’s new audio model, slated for early 2026, is said to sound more natural, handle interruptions like a conversation partner and even speak while a user is talking — capabilities current models lack.

OpenAI is reportedly planning a family of devices — possibly including glasses or screenless smart speakers — that would behave less like tools and more like companions. Former Apple design chief Jony Ive, who joined OpenAI’s hardware work through the company’s $6.5 billion acquisition of io, has made reducing device addiction a priority and sees audio-first design as a way to “right the wrongs” of past gadgets.

The shift reflects a broader industry move away from screens. Smart speakers are already in more than a third of U.S. homes. Meta has added a multi-microphone listening feature to its Ray-Ban glasses, Google has been experimenting with “Audio Overviews” that turn search results into conversational summaries, and Tesla is integrating xAI’s Grok into cars to create a voice assistant for navigation and controls.

Startups are also pursuing screenless audio wearables with mixed results.

Key Topics

AI, United States, Tech, Audio, Wearables, Hardware, Privacy