OpenAI plans a direct assault on Apple's AirPods with AI-powered earbuds codenamed "Sweetpea," according to supply chain leaks. The device reportedly features a 2nm smartphone-class processor and custom silicon designed to replace iPhone functions through Siri commands.
Leaker Smart Pikachu detailed the hardware in X posts this week, describing a "special audio product" with two pill-shaped components that sit behind the ear. The main housing resembles an eggstone shape constructed from metal, departing from traditional earbud designs.
Manufacturing has shifted from Luxshare to Foxconn, with production reportedly based in Vietnam to avoid Chinese supply chains. This move signals serious production scale rather than experimental prototyping.
The Sweetpea device reportedly targets a September 2026 launch, according to leaks, with projected first-year production volumes of 40-50 million units. However, some reports suggest a later 2028 timeline. Its bill of materials approaches smartphone-level costs, suggesting premium pricing beyond standard wireless earbuds.
OpenAI's hardware ambitions trace back to its $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive's io Products in May 2025. The former Apple design chief's team reportedly prioritizes the earbuds as their first consumer product.
Beyond audio playback, leaked component diagrams show skin contact sensors and ultrasonic transmitters. These suggest health monitoring or environmental sensing capabilities that differentiate Sweetpea from conventional headphones.
According to leaks, Foxconn will produce five prototype devices ahead of a planned fourth-quarter 2028 product family launch. Additional concepts include a pen and home-style device currently under development.
The behind-the-ear design addresses stability issues that plague traditional earbuds during movement. It also enables better microphone placement for voice commands and all-day comfort.
OpenAI's entry into consumer hardware follows the high-profile failure of Humane's Ai Pin earlier this year. Unlike screenless AI wearables, Sweetpea appears positioned as an audio-first device with expanded functionality.
Industry analysts note the timing coincides with Apple's expected AirPods Pro 4 refresh later this year. OpenAI's hardware push represents the most credible challenge yet to Apple's wireless audio dominance.
Neither OpenAI nor Foxconn has commented on the leaks. The company's hardware division remains focused on developing "physical AI" products that integrate its language models into daily use cases.
If specifications hold, Sweetpea could launch as the first consumer device from the OpenAI-Jony Ive partnership. Its success would validate the AI company's $6.5 billion hardware investment and establish a new category of AI-enhanced wearables.
