OpenAI is betting big on audio AI, unifying engineering, product, and research teams to prepare for an audio-first personal device expected to launch within a year. Former Appledesign chief Jony Ive, who joined through OpenAI’s $6.5 billion acquisition of his firm io in May, has made reducing device addiction a priority.
OpenAI has consolidated several teams over the past two months to overhaul its audio models—all in preparation for an audio-first personal device. Reports suggest this could be earbuds or a similar wearable.
Jony Ive’s Vision
The $6.5 billion acquisition of io brought Jony Ive—the designer behind the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch—into OpenAI’s hardware efforts. His stated priority: reducing device addiction by creating AI interfaces that don’t require screens.
Silicon Valley’s War on Screens
OpenAI isn’t alone. The broader tech industry is exploring post-smartphone interfaces:
Audio-first AI: Conversational interfaces that don’t require looking at a screen
Ambient computing: AI that’s always available without demanding visual attention
Wearables: Devices that integrate into daily life without smartphone dependency
The Business Model Question
Hardware represents a potential sixth revenue engine for OpenAI—but one not yet included in their $200B by 2030 projections. The company’s Sora/Media business (Engine 5) already projects $15-30B; hardware could expand this further.
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
