OpenAI is significantly investing in audio technology, aiming to reshape the way users interact with AI. Recent insights from The Information reveal that the company has consolidated its engineering, product, and research teams over the last two months to enhance its audio models. This initiative is geared towards the anticipated release of an audio-first personal device scheduled for launch in approximately one year.
This strategic pivot underscores a broader trend in the tech industry, where screens are gradually becoming secondary, and audio is positioned to take the forefront. Currently, voice assistants are a staple in over a third of households in the U.S., thanks to the popularity of smart speakers. Companies like Meta are innovating too; they recently introduced a feature in their Ray-Ban smart glasses that utilizes a five-microphone setup, enabling users to focus on conversations in noisy environments. Concurrently, Google has been testing “Audio Overviews,” which convert search results into conversational summaries. Tesla is also integrating advanced language models like Grok into its vehicles, offering drivers the ability to interact with voice assistants for navigation and climate control through natural dialogue.
The audio revolution isn’t limited to the tech giants; a diverse range of startups is also investing heavily in this space, though with mixed results. Examples include the Humane AI Pin, which experienced significant financial losses before its screenless wearable became a cautionary tale. The Friend AI pendant, a necklace designed to provide companionship, has ignited privacy debates and existential concerns. Furthermore, two companies, including Sandbar and one led by Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky, are developing AI rings projected to launch in 2026, allowing users to communicate through gestures.
Despite varying product designs, the core philosophy remains consistent: audio is emerging as the interface of tomorrow. Our living environments, vehicles, and even our bodies are becoming integrated communication platforms.
OpenAI’s forthcoming audio model, anticipated for early 2026, promises a more natural conversational experience, capable of navigating interruptions like a human would. Unlike today’s models, it will reportedly engage in dialogue while users are speaking. OpenAI envisions a suite of devices—potentially including glasses and screenless smart speakers—designed to function not merely as tools but as companions.
As highlighted by The Information, Jony Ive, former chief design officer at Apple, who joined OpenAI’s hardware team following a $6.5 billion acquisition of his firm io, is prioritizing the reduction of device addiction. He views an audio-first approach as a means to “rectify the missteps” of previous consumer electronics.
