[object Object]

OpenAI is venturing into consumer hardware with a screenless smart speaker, according to a Bloomberg News report citing sources familiar with the matter. This device is envisioned as an AI companion for the home, capable of managing smart appliances, streaming media, and answering queries using advanced AI models.

The speaker's design is being shaped by LoveFrom, the studio founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, and includes former Apple employees who worked on iconic products like the iPhone. This collaboration suggests a significant focus on user experience and aesthetics for OpenAI's first hardware product.

The move into hardware could establish a crucial new revenue stream for OpenAI, particularly as the company reportedly prepares for an initial public offering. This follows OpenAI's acquisition of LoveFrom last year for $6.5 billion, a move that signaled its ambition in AI-powered devices.

This development comes amid a lawsuit filed by Apple against OpenAI, accusing the AI company of exploiting its confidential information to accelerate its own hardware ambitions. OpenAI has not yet publicly responded to Apple's allegations.