OpenAI’s hardware push centers on its $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive’s io startup in 2025, which brought design leadership and prototypes for a screenless, context-aware consumer device—likely earbuds or a pocketable wearable—integrated with its large language models. Manufacturing partnerships with Apple supplier Luxshare and internal plans for a $200–300 smart speaker have advanced, with executives confirming an H2 2026 unveil target as recently as January 2026. However, a February 2026 court filing stated the first device will not ship before late February 2027, creating uncertainty over whether a public announcement plus availability qualifies as a launch by year-end. Competitive pressure from Apple and other AI wearables, plus typical hardware delays, keeps trader focus on any new prototype updates or supply-chain filings in the coming months.