The OpenAI device designed by Jony Ive: a hockey puck priced over $300

The first gadget from Jony Ive and OpenAI’s partnership may be a hockey puck-sized smart speaker. Design, estimated price, and early questions about the product’s relevance.

Design: Jony Ive’s Hockey Puck Speaker

The first hardware product from the collaboration between Jony Ive (former Chief Design Officer at Apple, creator of the iMac G3, original iPhone, and iPod) and OpenAI is taking shape. The Verge and Frandroid report that the device is a compact smart speaker, the size of a hockey puck, with a doughnut-like shape—doughnut-shaped according to Bloomberg. Expected in 2027, its price would exceed $300 (over €260 according to Frandroid).

The physical description suggests a circular, low-profile, minimalist design. This aligns with Ive’s philosophy: clean surfaces, no visible ports, premium materials. The speaker would be built around ChatGPT as the primary interface—voice interaction, no screen.

Hands-on / What We Know About the Specs

Information is still circulating as rumors, so let’s stick to what’s been reported:

• Form factor: Compact, circular (doughnut-shaped), hockey puck-sized
• Interface: Voice-based, centered on ChatGPT
• Price: Over $300 (Frandroid), expected launch in 2027
• Power: Battery-operated (The Verge)

Audio specs (drivers, power, frequency response) are not yet known. That’s precisely what makes judging difficult: a beautiful shape isn’t enough to make a great speaker.

Analysis: Competition and Questions

Direct comparison: Amazon Echo, Google Nest Audio, Apple HomePod mini. The smart speaker market is mature and dominated by players with years of voice data and smart home integration.

What could set OpenAI’s speaker apart:

• The depth of ChatGPT vs. Alexa/Google Assistant for complex conversations
• Jony Ive’s design, which could make it a desirable object
• The lack of a smart home ecosystem like Amazon’s or Google’s—a structural weakness

The real question remains the same as with Humane’s AI Pin: Do people want a dedicated AI device, or is the phone (which already has ChatGPT as an app) enough?

Provisional Verdict

Not enough information to judge objectively. What’s certain: Jony Ive will produce something beautiful. What’s uncertain: whether ChatGPT in a speaker over $300 will find its market. Stay tuned for the 2027 release for a real test.