OpenAI's Gumdrop hardware plans, codenamed 'i', raise smartphone concerns
OpenAI’s recent push beyond software has caught the attention of developers who worry about where the company’s next move might land. The firm unveiled a new audio model earlier this month, and the buzz didn’t stop there. Within hours, a thread on X surfaced that hinted at a hardware effort quietly brewing inside the organization.
An industry tipster, known only as Smart Pikachu, posted a handful of details that suggest the project isn’t just a peripheral accessory. According to the insider, the team has assigned an internal codename to the venture—“Gumdrop.” The description that follows points to a device shaped like a pen, meant to act as a third core for future AI workloads. If true, the form factor could slip into pockets alongside smartphones, raising questions about power consumption, security and the practical limits of on‑device AI.
The implications are enough to make engineers pause, wondering whether OpenAI is about to reshape the hardware expectations that have long surrounded consumer gadgets.
*Alongside the audio model, new details have emerged about OpenAI's hardware plans. According to a post on X by an industry tipster who goes by the name Smart Pikachu, the project's internal codename is "Gumdrop." The device is said to take the shape of a pen and is intended to serve as a third core*
Alongside the audio model, new details have emerged about OpenAI's hardware plans. According to a post on X by an industry tipster who goes by the name Smart Pikachu, the project's internal codename is "Gumdrop." The device is said to take the shape of a pen and is intended to serve as a third core device alongside smartphones and laptops. OpenAI reportedly envisions it as a simpler, more natural way to interact with AI in daily life, whether for taking notes, dictating ideas, or querying ChatGPT. This development follows OpenAI's acquisition of io, an AI hardware startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive.
Could a pen‑shaped AI hub really eclipse the phone? OpenAI’s internal project, dubbed “Gumdrop,” appears poised to become a third core alongside its audio model, according to a tipster known as Smart Pikachu. The device’s form factor—reminiscent of a writing instrument—suggests a deliberate move away from the glass‑screen paradigm that has dominated for a decade.
Researchers have already called today’s interfaces relics, and OpenAI’s call for a new one aligns with that sentiment. Yet the report offers few technical specifics, leaving it unclear whether Gumdrop will deliver the functionality needed to replace or merely supplement smartphones. If the pen can handle conversational, context‑aware AI tasks, it could reshape how users interact with digital services.
Conversely, without details on processing power, battery life, or ecosystem support, the claim remains speculative. As the story unfolds, the industry will be watching to see whether Gumdrop proves a viable alternative or remains another concept in the pipeline.
Further Reading
- OpenAI is reportedly developing pen-shaped AI device with microphone and camera to act as ‘third major core device’ - Notebookcheck
- OpenAI’s first Jony Ive-designed AI hardware might just be a pen - The Times of India
- OpenAI Shifts AI Hardware Manufacturing To Foxconn As Jony Ive-Designed Device Targets 2026 Launch: Report - Benzinga
- OpenAI’s Ambient Ambitions: The Screenless AI Gadget Set to Redefine Computing in Fall 2026 - TokenRing (syndicated via FinancialContent)
- OpenAI in the ‘Blue Ocean’ with the ‘Gumdrop’ project - Xpert.Digital
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Common Questions Answered
What is the internal codename of OpenAI's upcoming hardware project?
The internal codename is "Gumdrop," as revealed by tipster Smart Pikachu in a post on X. It refers to a pen‑shaped device intended to complement smartphones and laptops.
How does OpenAI envision the form factor of the Gumdrop device influencing user interaction with AI?
OpenAI describes Gumdrop as a pen‑shaped hub that offers a simpler, more natural way to interact with AI, such as taking notes or dictating ideas. This design moves away from traditional glass‑screen devices, aiming to make AI assistance feel like an extension of everyday writing tools.
Which existing OpenAI product is mentioned alongside the Gumdrop hardware plans in the article?
The article mentions OpenAI’s newly unveiled audio model, released earlier in the month, as being introduced alongside the hardware rumors. The audio model and Gumdrop are both positioned as core components of OpenAI’s expanding ecosystem.
Who disclosed details about the Gumdrop project, and what platform was used for the disclosure?
Details about the Gumdrop project were disclosed by an industry tipster known as Smart Pikachu. The information was shared in a thread on X (formerly Twitter), providing early insight into OpenAI’s hardware ambitions.