OpenAI expects to reveal its first physical product during the second half of 2026, Chris Lehane, the company’s chief global affairs officer, said on a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
It’s the clearest indication yet of when the world might see what Sam Altman and former Apple design chief Jony Ive have been building since OpenAI’s $6.5 billion deal with Ive was announced last May.
“I think most likely [we would see it this year.] We are looking at something latter part but we would see how somethings advance,” Lehane said at the Axios House Davos event.
Damilare Odedina
What the Screenless Device Actually Is
The device itself has remained deliberately undefined. Lehane didn’t say what form it would take—whether users will clip it on, wear it in their ears, or interact with it some other way entirely.
What’s known: prototypes lack screens and rely on voice interaction. Altman has previously characterized the experience as “calmer” than current smartphones, promising people will be surprised by how stripped-down it feels.
That simplicity appears strategic. For nearly two decades, personal technology has meant staring at rectangles filled with apps and notifications. OpenAI seems to be betting there’s appetite for something fundamentally different—a device that responds when spoken to.
Still, Lehane didn’t comment on whether the product will actually reach consumers in 2026.
The AI Hardware Market Heats Up Despite Early Failures
The market OpenAI is entering has already seen notable failures. Humane’s AI Pin, which promised to replace smartphones through a chest-worn projector, collapsed under poor reviews and performance issues.
Yet the category has continued to see innovations . Qualcomm CEO, Cristiano Amon revealed at the same Davos event that manufacturers are already shipping roughly 10 million AI-equipped glasses annually. He expects that figure to balloon to 100 million units within the next 12 to 24 months. The format will vary—smart glasses dominate by volume, but AI-powered earbuds with cameras and even jewellery are entering production, mostly running on Qualcomm processors.
Asked directly whether Qualcomm chips would power OpenAI’s hardware, Amon stayed vague but suggestive, noting the companies are collaborating but leaving product specifics to OpenAI.
The Jony Ive Factor: Can Design Excellence Overcome Market Skepticism?
The partnership between Ive’s design expertise and OpenAI’s AI capabilities raises the bar considerably. Ive spent decades at Apple designing some of the most defining technology products of our time. OpenAI has models capable of understanding context and responding naturally. If those strengths combine effectively, the result could be game-changing AI wearable.
But execution is everything. Humane had funding, talent, and media attention. It still failed because the product didn’t justify changing behaviour. OpenAI faces the same test: can a screenless device offer enough value to convince people to wear it daily?
Damilare Odedina
