“Sell me this pen.”
Sam Altman apparently took those words to heart when watching Wolf of Wall Street back in the day because now he wants to sell you his pen. (No, not his pen fifteen.)
A post on X from industry tipster Smart Pikachu revealed that OpenAI’s hardware device that’s being created in collaboration with former Apple chief designer Jony Ive could take the shape of a pen.
Mashable wrote:
“The form factor hints at a focus on handwriting and creativity, potentially blending digital note-taking with generative AI. The pen could allow handwritten notes to be instantly transcribed, sent to ChatGPT, or even function as a stylus with direct AI integration on tablets and other devices.”
The leak also suggests that OpenAI could be working on a standalone audio-based AI assistant designed to reduce reliance on smartphones and laptops to access artificial intelligence, offering hands-free access to ChatGPT in an always-available format. Like a portable Echo device?
That speculation aligns with an article from The Information, which reports that OpenAI is working to upgrade its audio AI models, aiming to develop an architecture that handles interruptions and produces more natural, emotive responses.
Smart Pikachu also said that OpenAI does not plan to produce its hardware in China, and instead is partnering with Foxconn, which has manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and the U.S.
Personally I’m ready for an audio-only “third device” to complement my life and workflows. Humane was ahead of its time and lacked the backing of a powerful enough audio-focused LLM. The next generation of devices could have more success. You’ll know we’re there when Apple makes a version of it.
