OpenAI readies pen-shaped AI device and advanced audio model for 2026

Friday 02 January 2026 - 16:23

OpenAI is pushing forward with its most ambitious hardware venture yet, developing a pen-like AI gadget codenamed "Gumdrop" in collaboration with former Apple designer Jony Ive. Reports emerging this week reveal the company is accelerating its audio AI capabilities, eyeing launches as early as late 2026 or 2027. This project merges OpenAI's software prowess with Ive's design expertise to create a fresh lineup of products tailored for the AI era.

Industry sources indicate the device was initially slated for production by Chinese manufacturer Luxshare but may shift to Foxconn amid disputes over factory locations. Final assembly could occur in Vietnam, with talks underway for potential U.S. manufacturing at Foxconn facilities. Separately, OpenAI plans to unveil a new audio AI model in the first quarter of 2026, promising more natural, emotionally attuned responses that handle interruptions and enable simultaneous conversations features lacking in current models.

Leading the audio push is Kundan Kumar, a vocal AI researcher recently hired from Character.AI. Over the past two months, OpenAI has consolidated engineering, product, and research teams to bolster this effort, acknowledging shortcomings in its existing audio systems compared to text-based ones. The pen-shaped device could transcribe handwritten notes straight into ChatGPT and support voice interactions with the AI assistant, marking the first of three hardware concepts under evaluation, followed by a portable audio gadget.

This initiative stems from OpenAI's $6.5 billion stock acquisition of Ive's startup, io Products, in May 2025, which brought the iconic designer and about 55 engineers on board. In November, Ive and CEO Sam Altman confirmed a prototype exists, with a market debut possible in under two years. The move comes as standalone AI hardware faces headwinds: Humane's AI Pin flopped with poor sales and criticism in 2024, leading to its abandonment in February 2025 after a $116 million asset sale to HP, while Rabbit's R1 met similar backlash. Meta, however, scored success with its Ray-Ban Display AI glasses launched in September 2025, featuring integrated visual displays.