OpenAI's first consumer hardware device will launch as "Dime" earbuds in late 2026, scaling back ambitions from earlier "Sweetpea" prototypes. The company confirmed its hardware roadmap at Davos earlier this year, targeting a second-half 2026 release for its initial product.
A Chinese patent filing uncovered this week reveals the consumer branding "Dime" for what was internally codenamed "Sweetpea." The filing suggests OpenAI will ship a simpler audio-focused earbud first, delaying more advanced AI features planned for later iterations. This is a strategic pullback from earlier leaks describing a "phone-like" AI wearable.
The earbuds feature a behind-the-ear design with pill-shaped modules and an egg-shaped metal charging case, according to multiple reports from Asian publications and leaker Smart Pikachu. Unlike traditional in-ear buds, the bulk of the hardware sits behind the outer ear, allowing for larger battery capacity and better thermal management for continuous AI processing.
OpenAI reportedly plans to manufacture 40 to 50 million units in the first year through Foxconn, with production shifting to Vietnam. The ambitious target aims to capture a fraction of ChatGPT's 800 million weekly users, positioning the device as mainstream consumer electronics rather than niche hardware.
Technical specifications leaked earlier this year indicate a 2nm smartphone-grade processor, similar to Samsung's Exynos chips, paired with custom silicon for Siri integration. The device would function as an always-on ChatGPT interface, designed to replace certain iPhone actions through voice commands rather than screen interactions.
OpenAI's hardware ambitions began with its $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive's io startup in May 2025. The former Apple design chief is leading industrial design for the product family, which reportedly includes multiple devices planned through 2028.
At Davos in January, OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane confirmed the company remains "on track" for a 2026 hardware announcement.
The simplified "Dime" earbuds now expected for late 2026 represent a pragmatic approach following market skepticism toward AI-first wearables. Earlier products like Humane's AI Pin and Rabbit R1 failed to gain traction despite similar ambitions to move AI interactions off screens.
OpenAI reportedly aims to ship the initial audio-focused version in September 2026, with more advanced AI capabilities arriving in subsequent hardware generations.
