Jony Ive and OpenAI’s secret AI gadget isn’t like anything you’ve seen before
Sam Altman-led OpenAI acquired former Apple chief designer Jony Ive’s startup earlier this year. Ive now been working with OpenAI for a new AI hardware device. A new leak has emerged claiming that this AI device could actually be a pen.
Former Apple chief designer Jony Ive has been working with OpenAI on a new AI hardware device for some time. The device is expected to launch in 2026, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman insisting it will be even simpler than the iPhone. Now, a new leak has revealed that the AI device in question could be a pen.
What could be OpenAI’s first AI hardware device?
Over on X, tipster Smart Pikachu shared details about OpenAI’s first hardware project – known internally as Gumdrop. The tipster claimed that the project is being evaluated to have three products, the first of which is likely to be a pen, with the second product planned to be a “to-go” audio device.
Although the exact features remain secret, a pen-style gadget from OpenAI will distinguish it from previous AI devices, such as the Humane AI Pin, which suggests a mix of digital handwriting and generative AI functionalities.
The prospect of AI-powered demonetization has already captured imaginations. The device can allow users to handwrite notes and instantly transcribe them into digital text using AI, allowing notes to be sent directly to ChatGPT. Or the pen can also be a stylus that can be used on your tablet and comes with direct ChatGPT integration.
If the rumored audio device is in the works, it could serve as a personal assistant without requiring users to constantly use their smartphone or laptop to access ChatGPAT. However, the leak should be taken with a pinch of salt as there is very little official information available at this time.
OpenAI reportedly doesn’t want to make its products in China
The tipster claims that Jony Ive-designed OpenAI hardware will likely not be manufactured in China. The AI startup has reportedly tied up with Foxconn, the famous electronics assembler responsible for devices like the iPhone, for production. Foxconn has a presence in both Vietnam and the US, providing flexibility as OpenAI and IVE determine the final production strategy of the project.
However early reports suggested that Gumdrop would be produced by Chinese firm Luxshare.
OpenAI and Jony Ive’s approach differs from previous failed attempts at standalone AI hardware. Devices like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin have struggled to gain popularity, often facing criticism for not offering an attractive alternative to smartphones. The team’s focus on the pen form factor could represent a new experiment in how people physically interact with AI.