OpenAI's $300 speaker aims to be Her — and it might get sued into oblivion
openai plans to launch a screenless, $300 smart speaker in 2027 that runs advanced voice ai. the device faces potential delays from apple's trade secret lawsuit over poached employees.
openai is reportedly entering the hardware market with a battery-powered smart speaker resembling a hockey puck, slated for 2027 with a price exceeding $300. the device aims to replicate the 'her' experience with adaptive voice features but includes a camera and moving parts, raising potential privacy concerns. this launch faces significant legal headwinds from apple, which accuses openai of stealing hardware trade secrets through mass poaching. the outcome of this litigation could determine if openai successfully diversifies beyond software or if its hardware ambitions stall before launch.