OpenAI's AI hardware is set to arrive in 2027 at a price above $300. According to Bloomberg, the device is a screenless smart speaker shaped like a donut, roughly the size of a hockey puck. The battery-powered gadget has moving parts, microphones, speakers, a camera system, and lights.

It's supposed to work like ChatGPT's current voice mode but learn from conversations, adapt to individual users, and feel more alive than today's smart speakers. That fits Altman's vision of an AI assistant like "Her", even as some people already attribute consciousness to text-based systems, with real consequences. More hardware products are planned to follow.

Apple's lawsuit could delay the launch. Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing hardware trade secrets by poaching more than 400 employees. Even if the suit fails, it could slow OpenAI's plans enough to put the startup in a tight spot. OpenAI denies the allegations and maintains it hasn't violated any Apple intellectual property.