The music cut out the moment I stepped off the train. Suddenly, I was surrounded by the drone of traffic, the screech of brakes, the distant wail of a siren. That’s when it hit me: my AirPods were dead, and my auditory cocoon was gone. Could OpenAI’s rumored “Sweetpea” earbuds, infused with ChatGPT, finally offer a seamless, intuitive audio experience—one that anticipates your needs before you even realize them?
OpenAI is reportedly developing a new AI-powered audio device, poised to challenge the dominance of products such as Apple AirPods by integrating ChatGPT directly into the listening experience. Leaks suggest this new product, codenamed “Sweetpea,” will sport a hardware design unlike anything currently on the market. Envision, perhaps, a metal “eggstone” form factor with modular, pill-shaped components.
‘Sweetpea’ and the 2026 Launch Window
I walked past a construction site the other day, and every worker had earbuds in. What were they listening to? Music? Podcasts? Now, imagine those earbuds were actively filtering out the jackhammer noise, summarizing important emails, and translating conversations in real-time. A tipster, @zhihuipikachu, shared on X that this “special audio product” from OpenAI may launch as early as September, with projected first-year sales volume between 40 and 50 million units. The design purportedly includes two detachable modules positioned behind the ear.
Foxconn has reportedly been instructed to prepare manufacturing capacity for potentially five different OpenAI devices by the end of 2028. However, the “Sweetpea” audio device is allegedly receiving priority attention from Jony Ive’s team for an accelerated release. This OpenAI earbud device may even feature a phone-class 2nm chip, potentially a Samsung Exynos SoC. This level of processing power hints at sophisticated on-device AI capabilities – it’s no longer a simple audio device, but rather your own personal assistant.
Additionally, it’s suggested that a custom chip is being developed to enable the earbuds to trigger AI functions on iPhones through Siri commands. Remember that OpenAI was reportedly exploring a pen-shaped device, internally called “Gumdrop”, designed for capturing handwriting and voice input. Sweetpea is no longer just an audio device; it’s the potential key to a new age of intuitive mobile device control.
What is the price of OpenAI’s earbuds?
Predicting the price point of a product shrouded in secrecy is an imprecise science at best. But given the rumored high-end specs—a custom chip, potential Samsung Exynos SoC, and novel design—don’t expect these to be budget earbuds. If the goal is to compete with premium offerings from the likes of Apple, Sony, and Bose, the price will likely hover in the €250-€350 (USD 268-375) range, or possibly higher depending on the final feature set. The question then becomes, are consumers willing to pay a premium for AI-powered audio?
Among the rumored devices, the AI pen (“Gumdrop”), AirPods-style audio device (“Sweetpea”), and a pocket-sized AI companion are known. The identities and release prospects of the remaining devices remain unclear. This new direction for OpenAI is a signal flare that they intend to compete directly in the consumer hardware space.
Will these earbuds work with Android devices?
That’s the million-dollar question. Given OpenAI’s demonstrated commitment to cross-platform accessibility with ChatGPT, it would be a surprising misstep to limit “Sweetpea” exclusively to the Apple ecosystem. It’s reasonable to anticipate compatibility with Android devices, potentially via a dedicated OpenAI app or integration with existing Bluetooth protocols. If this new ecosystem is successful, it might feel like the first real step towards a Blade Runner-esque existence, with technology disappearing into the background of daily life.
However, remember that OpenAI has not officially verified any of this leaked information, so exercise caution. In the meantime, is it time to start mentally preparing for a world where your earbuds are smarter than your phone?