OpenAI's First Consumer Device To Be A Portable Speaker Amid Apple Trade Secrets Lawsuit

Published 15 July 2026 · tech

OpenAI's First Consumer Device To Be A Portable Speaker Amid Apple Trade Secrets Lawsuit Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 05:30 IST The reported

OpenAI's First Consumer Device To Be A Portable Speaker Amid Apple Trade Secrets Lawsuit Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 05:30 IST The reported hardware plans come days after Apple filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of using confidential information and trade secrets taken from former Apple employees. The device, which is still under development, is expected to function as a human-like AI companion for homes. OpenAI is preparing to enter the consumer hardware market with a portable, screen-free smart speaker as its first device, as the artificial intelligence company expands beyond its ChatGPT platform. The device, which is still under development, is expected to function as a human-like AI companion for homes, with capabilities including controlling smart appliances, playing media, answering questions, responding to messages and accessing OpenAI’s wider AI models, Bloomberg News reported. The speaker is also expected to feature a camera and sensors that could help it understand users’ surroundings and provide more context-aware responses than existing smart speakers.

Apple Legal Battle Over Trade Secrets The reported hardware plans come days after Apple filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of using confidential information and trade secrets taken from former Apple employees to speed up its consumer device ambitions. Apple’s lawsuit, filed in a federal court in San Jose, California, alleges that OpenAI carried out a broader effort to recruit Apple staff and obtain sensitive information related to unreleased technologies and products. The legal dispute marks a sharp turn in relations between the two companies, which had partnered in 2024 to bring ChatGPT features to Apple devices. OpenAI’s move into hardware gained momentum after the company acquired io, an AI device startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, for around $6.5 billion last year. Ive’s design studio, LoveFrom, is also reportedly involved in developing OpenAI’s hardware products. The acquisition brought several former Apple designers and engineers into OpenAI’s hardware efforts, including executives with experience working on products such as the iPhone and Mac.

Apple has alleged that OpenAI’s hardware division benefited from confidential knowledge shared by former employees, while OpenAI has denied wrongdoing, saying it has no interest in other companies’ trade secrets and remains focused on developing technology for users worldwide. (With inputs from Reuters) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered Will OpenAI's speaker compete with existing smart home devices? OpenAI is developing a screen-free smart speaker, its first consumer hardware product, which aims to be a humanlike AI companion. The device is expected to include a camera and sensors for context-aware responses. How might this lawsuit impact OpenAI's hardware development? The lawsuit could impact OpenAI's hardware development by potentially forcing product redesigns if Apple proves trade secret theft. It may also slow decision-making due to increased legal oversight and compliance reviews. What new features could this AI companion offer users? OpenAI's upcoming smart speaker is expected to function as a human-like AI companion, capable of controlling smart appliances, playing media, answering questions, and responding to messages.