OpenAI is said to be hiring Apple employees to create its initial consumer hardware product.

OpenAI is currently in the process of recruiting talent from Apple to work on its first consumer hardware device, which is speculated to be a smart speaker. The company’s hardware division, under the leadership of Tang Tan, a former Apple executive, has already hired over 25 employees from Cupertino and is aiming for a product launch in 2026.

According to reports, OpenAI has partnered with Luxshare to manufacture its upcoming consumer hardware product, which is described as a screenless smart speaker similar to devices like Alexa. Additionally, the company is exploring the development of other hardware devices such as glasses, a wearable pin, and a digital voice recorder, with a targeted launch window of late 2026 or early 2027. Luxshare is not the only Apple supplier involved in this project, as Goertek, a manufacturer of AirPods and HomePods, has been approached to provide speaker modules for OpenAI’s device. The company is also engaging with other Chinese supply chain partners that Apple has worked with in the past.

Tang Tan, who previously served at Apple and now heads OpenAI’s hardware project, is leading the initiative to create a family of AI-driven products under the io brand. Following OpenAI’s acquisition of io Products, a hardware design studio co-founded by Tan and Jony Ive, for $6.5 billion, the company has been actively recruiting talent from Apple, particularly in areas like human interface design, audio, wearables, and manufacturing scale-up. Many former Apple employees, including high-ranking individuals like Cyrus Daniel Irani and Matt Theobald, who have extensive experience in product design and manufacturing, have joined OpenAI’s hardware division led by Tang Tan.

The recruitment of talent from Apple by OpenAI could potentially strain the relationship between the two companies, as Apple has been integrating OpenAI’s models into its products since 2024, including Siri and iOS. This partnership now faces competition from OpenAI’s hardware initiative, staffed by former Apple employees and suppliers. Despite potential challenges, OpenAI is forging ahead with its hardware plans and aims to establish itself as a key player in the consumer hardware market with innovative AI-driven products.

In conclusion, OpenAI’s move to poach talent from Apple underscores its commitment to entering the hardware space with a consumer-focused product. With an experienced team led by Tang Tan, who brings a wealth of knowledge from his tenure at Apple, OpenAI is poised to make a significant impact in the tech industry with its upcoming hardware offerings. The company’s strategic partnerships with manufacturers and suppliers further demonstrate its dedication to delivering innovative and cutting-edge products to consumers in the near future.