OpenAI’s first consumer hardware device could be an AirPods replacement. The AI-powered earbuds, internally called “Sweetpea,” is reportedly the priority focus for former Apple design chief Jony Ive’s team.
OpenAI’s earbuds could debut as early as September, with the company estimating shipments to reach 40 million to 50 million units in the first year.
AI-powered earbuds from OpenAI?
Last May, OpenAI — the company behind ChatGPT — purchased Jony Ive’s design startup io, announcing the acquisition by teasing a mysterious device. Since then, several reports have detailed OpenAI’s plan to build AI companions.
A Chinese leaker going by the name Smart Pikachu shared purported new details Monday about OpenAI’s first consumer device. Apparently, it is a “special audio product to replace” AirPods. While OpenAI and io plan to release as many as five consumer-oriented devices by the fourth quarter of 2028, Jony Ive‘s design team places the highest priority on “Sweetpea,” according to Smart Pikachu.
The earbuds will be a “unique, unseen before” device, the leaker said, with a shape resembling an egg stone, which the Collins English Dictionary defines as “a limestone composed of minute rounded concretions resembling fish roe.”
There will be two pills within the eggstone that can be “removed and rest behind the ear,” Smart Pikachu said.
Hearing fresh detail on Openai “To-go” hardware project from last report. Now confirmed it is a special audio product to replace Airpod, internal code name is “Sweetpea”
On manufacturing, Foxconn has been told to prepare for total 5 devices by Q4 2028. All not known but a home… https://t.co/svOCBuyapI pic.twitter.com/SFumFfRIeF
— 智慧皮卡丘 Smart Pikachu (Weibo) (@zhihuipikachu) January 12, 2026
The tipster says OpenAI plans to use a 2nm SoC, most likely an Exynos chip supplied by Samsung, to power the AI earbuds. A custom chip will allow the device to “replace iPhone actions by commanding Siri.”
The earbuds will not use bone conduction for sound output.
A high price tag
Considering the rumored hardware and functionality, the earbuds’ bill of materials could be surprisingly high, rivaling that of a smartphone rather than conventional earbuds.
Apple’s longtime manufacturing partner Foxconn will reportedly handle assembly for OpenAI’s earbuds. Having lost all AirPods production to Luxshare, Foxconn views this as an opportunity to reenter the category.
Down the line, OpenAI is also reportedly considering launching a “home style device” and pen.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
