According to reliable sources, the company is developing a new AI audio device codenamed "Sweetpea," which is planned to be officially released in September 2026, with an astonishing first-year shipment target of 40 to 50 million units, aiming to break into the global mainstream consumer market.
The device features a distinctive oval metal casing and a dual-capsule rear-hanging structure, combining aesthetics with wearing stability. It is equipped with an advanced 2nm AI chip and integrates multi-modal interaction components, including an electromyography (EMG) sensing window, suggesting that it may support human-computer interaction through micro-expressions, facial muscle activity, or even silent commands, surpassing the capabilities of traditional voice assistants.
Notably, Jony Ive, former chief design officer of Apple, has deeply participated in the industrial design of Sweetpea. This marks that OpenAI not only pursues technological breakthroughs but also places user experience and product quality at the core, aiming to create an AI entry-level hardware that combines technology with luxury attributes.
In manufacturing, Foxconn has confirmed to be the exclusive manufacturer of Sweetpea. It is reported that OpenAI initially favored Luxshare Precision, but due to strategic considerations for supply chain diversification and production capacity assurance, it eventually turned to Foxconn. The cooperation between the two parties is expected to deepen long-term—sources revealed that Foxconn is expected to take on as many as five OpenAI hardware manufacturing orders by 2028.
If Sweetpea is released as scheduled and achieves a shipment of millions, OpenAI will complete a key leap from a pure software company to a "AI + hardware" ecosystem giant. This device may become the physical carrier of its super intelligence (AGI) strategy, allowing users to access OpenAI's AI service network through natural and seamless ways. When large models move out of the cloud and are embedded in daily wearables, the popularization of general artificial intelligence might come faster than imagined.
