OpenAI’s Next Big Thing Isn’t Wearable — It’s Invisible

Move over wearables, screens, and smart glasses — OpenAI is working on something radically different. According to a Wall Street Journal report, CEO Sam Altman recently told employees that the company’s next flagship product will be a screenless, compact AI companion — not a watch, not glasses, and definitely not a smartphone.

Described as a “third core device” to sit alongside the MacBook Pro and iPhone, the gadget is said to be pocket-sized and context-aware, designed to blend seamlessly into daily life. It will rely on AI, not visual interfaces, to interact with the user and environment. Think of it as an always-on personal assistant — present, perceptive, and deeply integrated.

A New Hardware Frontier with Jony Ive

This futuristic device follows the headline-grabbing news that OpenAI is acquiring io, a startup co-founded by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive, in a massive $6.5 billion equity deal. Ive, the mind behind the iPhone and other iconic Apple products, will take the creative reins on this mystery device.

Altman reportedly told employees that this new product line could unlock over $1 trillion in market value, opening a whole new category of personal computing — one that breaks away from screens entirely. The goal is to create something beyond wearables, headsets, or even AR glasses — a true “ambient AI companion.”

Secrecy, Leaks, and Trust Issues

Interestingly, Altman also stressed the importance of keeping the project under wraps to stay ahead of competitors. Yet a recording of his remarks leaked almost immediately to the WSJ — a twist that underscores the very human challenge of secrecy inside high-stakes innovation.

The tension between vision and vulnerability is clear: OpenAI wants to redefine personal computing, but it has to build that future while navigating internal trust and external pressure.