January 20, 2026 – At the Davos Forum on Monday, Chris Lane, the policy director of OpenAI, revealed that the company is “on track” to launch its first-ever device in the latter half of 2026.
It’s worth noting that last May, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple chief designer Jony Ive disclosed that the company was in the process of developing a range of hardware products, with the potential to make their official debut in 2026. In November of the previous year, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reported that OpenAI was aggressively poaching talent from Apple’s hardware engineering team.
It is understood that the mysterious AI hardware, which is being developed in collaboration, now has its first prototype. Altman described the prototype’s performance as “astonishing” and said that the project is progressing as planned. He also mentioned that the product would enter production within the next two years.
During the event, Lane and Altman elaborated on the core concept of the device: to completely transform the way people use computers. They pointed out that current smart devices are like “walking through New York’s Times Square,” filled with all kinds of distractions and unable to provide a sense of calm. In contrast, this new device aims to create a tranquil experience similar to “sitting in a lakeside cabin,” allowing users to focus on what truly matters.
As of now, the specific type and name of this hardware product remain unclear.
