In May, OpenAI acquired Jony Ive's startup io, which is a part of his LoveFrom creative design company. The startup was engaged in developing a secretive hardware product, and recent rumors have begun to clarify what this product is.
The item in question is a pen, though it promises to be anything but ordinary. A previous report referred to it as "contextually aware," suggesting that as io is now integrated with OpenAI, this will indeed be an AI-enabled pen. What specific functionalities it will offer, however, remains unknown.
Interestingly, this pen will mark only the beginning of OpenAI's hardware endeavors, with the company working on two additional products, one of which is rumored to be a portable audio device.
Currently, details about these products are sparse, and we hope to see more information emerge soon. The pen is expected to be manufactured by Foxconn, likely in Vietnam. Although Luxshare was initially selected for production, OpenAI opted against manufacturing in China for its hardware, leading to this change. There is even a slim possibility that the pen could be produced in the USA by Foxconn.
OpenAI's acquisition of io was valued at $6.5 billion, though it was conducted as an all-stock deal, meaning no cash transaction took place. These hardware products are intended to serve as a “third-core” device, complementing users' laptops and smartphones. Previous efforts to introduce similar ancillary devices, such as AI "pins," have met with failure, leaving uncertainty about OpenAI's potential success in this area. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
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