Krux
February 21, 2026
OpenAI Building Smart Speakers, Glasses After $6.5B Acquisition
Published: February 21, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Updated: February 21, 2026 at 3:44 AM
100-word summary
OpenAI is jumping into consumer hardware with a team of over 200 people developing AI-powered devices, including smart speakers, glasses, and even a smart lamp. This follows their massive $6.5 billion acquisition of io Products, Jony Ive's design firm. The first product, a camera-equipped smart speaker priced at $200 to $300, won't ship until February 2027 at the earliest, while smart glasses are slated for 2028. This pivot from pure software to physical products puts OpenAI in direct competition with Meta's successful Ray-Ban glasses and upcoming wearables from Apple and Google, as AI companies race to embed intelligence into everyday objects around your home.
What happened
OpenAI is jumping into consumer hardware with a team of over 200 people developing AI-powered devices, including smart speakers, glasses, and even a smart lamp. This follows their massive $6.5 billion acquisition of io Products, Jony Ive's design firm. The first product, a camera-equipped smart speaker priced at $200 to $300, won't ship until February 2027 at the earliest, while smart glasses are slated for 2028.
Why it matters
This pivot from pure software to physical products puts OpenAI in direct competition with Meta's successful Ray-Ban glasses and upcoming wearables from Apple and Google, as AI companies race to embed intelligence into everyday objects around your home.