The news: OpenAI's mystery device gets a price tag
Bloomberg reports that OpenAI's long-rumored hardware device - previously described as an AI-fueled smart speaker and the physical manifestation of ChatGPT - will be donut-shaped, so users can carry it around the home from bedside table to kitchen counter.
Sources describe a device built from high-quality metal with a premium look and distinct moving parts, priced at $300 to $400 per unit. For scale, Amazon's smart speakers range from roughly $40 to $240.
The device is being developed with LoveFrom, the design studio of former Apple design chief Jony Ive, and is likely to be released sometime in 2027. The report does not say when pricing will be confirmed or how many units OpenAI plans, but the company has framed the hardware as the physical manifestation of ChatGPT - a constant presence at home rather than a productivity tool.
Why it matters: hardware is OpenAI's most visible bet yet
A $300 to $400 gadget is a different league from a budget Echo Dot. OpenAI is betting that a premium, tactile ChatGPT device - one you carry around the house, with moving parts you can feel - can justify a price four to ten times what consumers pay for smart speakers today.
The 2027 timeline matters just as much. Voice AI and hardware both move fast, and a device described this far in advance can easily change shape, slip, or get reworked before it ships. Treat every detail here as a plan, not a promise.
There is also a legal wrinkle. Apple is suing OpenAI over alleged trade secrets theft - a claim OpenAI denies - and if that case drags on, it could affect the hardware team's focus and the product's timing.
What it means for Pakistan
At roughly PKR 280 per US dollar, $300 to $400 converts to about PKR 84,000 to PKR 112,000 - a luxury purchase by any local standard, before import duties and shipping. This is not a realistic near-term buy for most Pakistani users, and anyone offering pre-orders or early units should be treated as a scam risk: never prepay for hardware that is not shipping until 2027.
The smarter play is the device in your pocket. The same ChatGPT experience OpenAI wants to put in a premium speaker already runs on phones, and a ChatGPT Plus subscription costs PKR 2,200 a month at AI Tools Pak - a full year runs about PKR 26,400, a fraction of the speaker's price. Our free vs Plus guide covers whether the paid tier is worth it for your workflow.
Buyer checklist for AI hardware
Before you put any money down on AI hardware, run through this checklist:
- Treat any pre-order for OpenAI hardware as high risk until an official launch date and price exist
- Never pay in advance for imported devices - wait for verified local sellers and real stock
- Compare the reported price against a year of ChatGPT Plus at PKR 26,400 before spending PKR 84,000 plus
- Follow the Apple lawsuit - it could delay or reshape the product
- If you want premium voice AI now, phone-based voice modes deliver most of the experience at a fraction of the cost
- Message AI Tools Pak on WhatsApp (+92 371 454 9245) or wa.me/923714549245 to ask for current ChatGPT pricing instead of gambling on hardware pre-orders
Smart speaker price comparison
Here is how the reported price stacks up against existing speakers and local subscription costs:
| Device | Price |
|---|---|
| Amazon smart speakers | $40 - $240 |
| OpenAI speaker (Bloomberg report) | $300 - $400 |
| OpenAI speaker in PKR at ~280/USD | PKR 84,000 - 112,000 |
| ChatGPT Plus, one year at AI Tools Pak | PKR 26,400 |
DEEPER DIVE
Frequently asked questions
How much will OpenAI's smart speaker cost?
Bloomberg reports a price of $300 to $400 per unit, which is roughly PKR 84,000 to PKR 112,000 at an exchange rate of about 280 rupees per dollar. OpenAI has not confirmed the price.
When will the OpenAI speaker launch?
It is likely to be released sometime in 2027, according to sources. It is being developed with LoveFrom, the design studio of former Apple design chief Jony Ive.
Should Pakistani users pre-order the OpenAI speaker?
No. With no official launch date or price, prepaying any seller for pre-orders is a scam risk. A ChatGPT Plus subscription at PKR 2,200 per month is the safer way to use ChatGPT today.