OpenAI’s First Hardware Device Likely To Launch In Late 2026, Everything You Need To Know

OpenAI is preparing for its biggest shift ye, and no, it’s not another chatbot update. According to a report by Axios, the company is now “on track” to unveil its first-ever hardware device in the second half of 2026. The update comes straight from the AI giant’s chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, hinting that the company’s next chapter could finally move beyond software and into something you can actually hold, wear, or carry around. And if the leaks are true, it may look nothing like the gadgets we’re used to.OpenAI’s Hardware Plans Are Finally Getting RealOpenAI has mostly lived in the world of apps and AI models, with ChatGPT doing the heavy lifting. But things got interesting last year when the company acquired a startup founded

by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. At the time, OpenAI didn’t spill much, but the teaser video during the acquisition had a clear message: something new is coming in 2026. That alone was enough to set the internet spiralling. Because when Jony Ive gets involved, people automatically expect something minimal, premium and a little “future-y.”Early reports suggest OpenAI has been experimenting with small hardware concepts, possibly screenless devices, maybe even wearables. Think more like an always-ready assistant than a mini smartphone. Sam Altman has also hinted at a calmer kind of tech, something that doesn’t constantly scream for your attention the way phones do.Whether it ends up being a pin, an earpiece, or something completely unexpected is still a mystery.Warning! Uninstall These Extensions From Your Browser Now Before They Steal Your Data And Money Late 2026 RevealWhen asked about specifics, Chris Lehane didn’t give away the exact form factor or a firm release plan. He did, however, confirm that “devices” are one of OpenAI’s major focuses for 2026 and said more details will come “much later in the year.”Lehane also suggested that late 2026 is the “most likely” window for a reveal, though it depends on how development progresses. In other words: it’s happening, but don’t tattoo the date on your arm yet.One of the more telling clues came from The Information, which recently reported that OpenAI has been strengthening its audio-based models. That lines up perfectly with the idea of a screenless product that relies on voice input as the main way to communicate.If that’s the direction they’re taking, it could mean OpenAI is building something that feels more like a real-world companion than an app you open and close.For now, the smartest bet is this: an announcement in late 2026 and actual availability sometime in 2027.