OpenAI's long-anticipated push into consumer hardware is set to begin with a mobile, screen-free smart speaker designed to function as a humanlike AI companion in the home, according to people familiar with the matter cited in a Bloomberg report published Tuesday.

The device, still under development, is intended to serve as a new type of home computer built specifically for the artificial intelligence era, rather than a conventional smart speaker competing directly with existing products from companies such as Amazon or Google. According to the report, the sources requested anonymity because the project has not been formally announced by the company.

Core Functions and Capabilities

The speaker is expected to control smart-home appliances, play media, answer questions and respond to messages, while tapping into the broader range of capabilities offered by OpenAI's ChatGPT platform. Unlike stationary smart speakers currently on the market, the device is designed to be portable, featuring a rechargeable battery that would allow users to carry it from room to room without needing a constant power connection.

The device's communication abilities will rely on GPT-Live, a more advanced version of ChatGPT's Voice Mode that OpenAI rolled out earlier this month. According to the report, GPT-Live is designed to behave more like a human conversational partner, capable of listening and speaking simultaneously, adapting naturally during conversations and processing information more quickly than previous........

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