OpenAI Targets 2027 Hardware Launch Amid Apple Trade Secret Lawsuit

OpenAI is advancing development on its first artificial intelligence hardware device, a portable smart speaker slated for release in 2027. Led by former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive, the project aims to introduce an AI-native form factor distinct from traditional smartphones. The development timeline proceeds alongside a high-profile legal dispute in the United States involving corporate intellectual property claims.

Apple recently filed a trade secret lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that OpenAI systematically poached hundreds of former employees to acquire unreleased hardware technologies. OpenAI has responded aggressively by filing a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, asserting that Apple is attempting to stifle lawful employee mobility due to falling behind in the artificial intelligence market.

A preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for October will be critical in determining whether OpenAI must adjust its research and development trajectory. Legal experts indicate that OpenAI must successfully defend against the injunction to maintain its hardware rollout schedule. The outcome will influence how artificial intelligence startups recruit talent and develop proprietary physical devices.