It emerged over a year ago that Jony Ive, Apple’s former head of hardware design, was collaborating with OpenAI on an AI-powered device, and now recent reports have exposed this mysterious AI project, suggesting it could be an AI-integrated pen.
OpenAI’s next gadget will likely be made by Foxconn, a renowned iPhone assembler. The device is expected to function as both “a pen” and a “grab-and-go audio device,” according to industry tipster Smart Pikachu.
This description indicates a pen-like device capable of transcribing handwritten notes directly into ChatGPT. If it also serves as an audio device, there is a good chance that users will establish two-way communication with ChatGPT through a connected smartphone.
OpenAI’s secret AI product is internally called Gumdrop, for which the company initially planned to partner with Chinese manufacturer Luxshare. However, a dispute over manufacturing sites led OpenAI to consider Foxconn, with production to take place in Vietnam.
As Android Authority pointed out, the device could be built at a Foxconn site in the United States, as the ChatGPT maker has facilities in several states.
While standalone AI devices have struggled to find a market, with early products like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin facing criticism, it is felt that a pen-like device would offer a unique approach.
The notable development is the lack of clarity around whether consumers will adopt dedicated AI hardware, but Gumdrop represents a surprising step toward the future of AI integration.
