The mystery surrounding OpenAI’s first device is finally beginning to clear. After two years of discreet development, Sam Altman and Jony Ive confirm that the design has now been finalized, and a prototype is already in their hands.
The commercial launch could occur in “less than two years,” according to Ive. This timeline suggests the arrival of this new category of product sometime between late 2026 and early 2027.
A Screenless Device Designed as a Companion Rather Than a Gadget
Very little is known about this product—intentionally. However, the few existing hints suggest it will be screenless, smartphone-sized, and designed to seamlessly blend into everyday life. This philosophy echoes past attempts at radical innovation, like the Humane AI Pin or the Rabbit R1, but infused with the aesthetic demands and industrial rigor of a former Chief Design Officer at Apple.
As Sam Altman summarizes the duo’s ambition: “We wanted something simple, beautiful, and playful. There was a previous, exciting version… but I didn’t have that instinctive urge to pick it up and delve into it. And suddenly, we’ve achieved that.”
This almost childlike intention, embraced by Ive, reflects a design that is “almost naive” yet refined until it becomes self-evident.
Jony Ive Revives His Mantra: Simplicity, Tactility, and Absence of Friction
During his conversation with Laurene Powell Jobs at the Emerson Collective Demo Day 2025, Ive made a statement that encapsulates his vision: “I love solutions that seem almost naive in their simplicity and also sophisticated objects that invite touch without intimidation—tools we use almost thoughtlessly.”
In essence: not a futuristic device packed with screens, but an intuitive, nearly organic object designed to recede in favor of interaction with AI.
This aligns perfectly with Altman’s direction for OpenAI: more human-centric interfaces that are less technical, capable of understanding context, responding proactively, and acting as a natural extension of the user.
The exchange concluded with a shared sense of anticipation. Altman stated: “I hope that when people see it, they’ll say: ‘This is it!’” to which Ive replied: “Yes. They will say that.” This confidence is almost provocative in a sector where attempts at AI devices have, until now, ranged from curiosity to disappointment and artificial hype.
A Risky Promise… But Credible
Why believe that OpenAI and Ive can succeed where others have failed? Because they want to avoid the obvious pitfall of creating a disguised smartphone. Altman has reiterated in other interviews that this product is not a telephone, and he certainly doesn’t want to recreate one.
Because they’re seeking a new material grammar for AI: a simple, portable, non-intimidating object that doesn’t distract from what matters.
Because they understand that for an AI device to work, it must disappear—to become a collection of natural gestures and interactions, not a mini-computer strapped to one’s chest.
And because they’ve learned from the mistakes of their competitors: unreliable interfaces, poor battery life, latency, and a lack of compelling use cases.
A Product That Could Signal a New Era
The Altman-Ive duo is creating a rare sense of expectation in the hardware world, reminiscent of when rumors circulated about an Apple device before we knew it would be… the iPhone.
It is still unclear whether this future device will serve as a vocal companion, a contextual badge, an intelligent office object, or a new class of devices.
However, we do know that a milestone has been reached:
the prototype exists, the design is confirmed, and the ambitions are clear.
Stay tuned for less than two years to see if OpenAI and Jony Ive have indeed discovered the “good enough” needed to usher in the era of emotional AI hardware.
