There is speculation that OpenAI, the developer of the ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) model, is working on an AI device that is a donut-shaped smart speaker the size of a hockey puck with no screen.
Bloomberg said on the 6th, citing multiple sources, that OpenAI plans to release next year an AI device co-designed with LoveFrom, the design studio of former Apple designer Jony Ive.
The new product is a donut shape with a hole in the middle and includes a built-in battery so it can be moved around the home and used freely.
The device is also equipped with a camera and various sensors to recognize its surroundings, and it can interact with or respond to users through moving parts. A lighting system is also expected to indicate the device's operating status.
Users can communicate with the device through voice conversations. It is similar to the voice mode of the ChatGPT app, but the goal is to implement humanlike interaction by applying a more advanced AI model.
OpenAI envisions starting with this product and, in the long term, unveiling a new device that could replace today's smartphones.
The product is priced somewhat higher than current smart speakers on the market, at $300 to $400 (about 430,000 to 570,000 won).
For the exterior, metal materials will be used, as in products Ive designed in the past, to emphasize a premium image. However, the fact that such metalworking technology has emerged as a key issue in the legal battle with Apple is a variable.
Apple claims in a complaint and other filings submitted to the court that OpenAI misled a partner into believing it had obtained approval from Apple to access the technology.
OpenAI criticized this as "careless, aggressive and oddly personal," and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.
If the injunction Apple filed is granted, OpenAI will inevitably face delays in its new product launch schedule.
However, Bloomberg noted that the donut-shaped portable smart speaker differs in design from products Apple has released so far.
In addition, sources said OpenAI concluded through an internal review that its first AI device did not use or infringe Apple's trade secrets.