Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s First AI Gadget Could Attempt to Kill AirPods

Should you’ve ever checked out a pair of AirPods and thought, “I actually want these had been behind my ears and never in them,” then Jony Ive and Sam Altman may be right here to avoid wasting the day.

Experiences from a provide chain leaker, Smart Pikachu, who has previously shared information on rumored unreleased Apple products, point out that an anticipated AI gadget from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple head of design, Jony Ive, has AirPods in its crosshairs.

Listening to recent element on Openai “To-go” {hardware} undertaking from final report. Now confirmed it’s a particular audio product to switch Airpod, inside code identify is “Sweetpea”

On manufacturing, Foxconn has been instructed to arrange for complete 5 units by This fall 2028. All not recognized however a house… https://t.co/svOCBuyapI pic.twitter.com/SFumFfRIeF

— 智慧皮卡丘 Sensible Pikachu (Weibo) (@zhihuipikachu) January 12, 2026

The machine, codenamed “Sweetpea,” apparently, is what the leaker is describing as a “particular audio product” that resembles an earpiece. Two pill-shaped devices, that are housed in an egg-shaped case when not in use, will be located behind the ear. From there, I assume they will do stuff like play audio or place calls. I say “assume” right here as a result of we don’t but know what Altman and Ive’s gadget actually does but.

If there was one factor I’d guess all of the AirPods on the planet on, it’s that Sweetpea facilities on an AI voice assistant powered by ChatGPT. Utilizing microphones and a voice assistant, these not-earbuds may make calls, play audio, or perhaps even management stuff in your telephone. If that sounds lots like what you may already do with wi-fi earbuds as they exist proper now, properly… that’s as a result of it’s. In response to Sensible Pikachu:

“[the] foremost processor goal is 2nm good telephone model chip (exynos most favored). a customized chip additionally been developed to permitting the machine to “exchange iphone actions by commanding Siri.”

Good thought or not, Sensible Pikachu says that Sweetpea might be the primary AI gadget we see from Altman and Ive’s collaboration, with a projected launch round September. After Sweetpea, we may see even wackier {hardware} that will embody a “home-style machine,” because the leaker places it, or—and I’m not making this up—a pen? I suppose, of the merchandise probably within the pipeline for Altman and Ive, Sweetpea sounds essentially the most helpful, but when I’m being trustworthy, these little earpieces are going to should do extra than simply dupe AirPods’ greatest options to make an impression.

The very fact of the matter is that individuals like wi-fi earbuds—not solely is the shape issue acquainted, confirmed, and low cost to make, however in addition they enable for stuff like energetic noise cancellation (ANC), which is a must have when you dwell in a crowded metropolis like me or when you ever fly on an airplane.

Clearly, there’s one thing in Sweetpea that we’re not seeing but, although. If Sensible Pikachu’s leaks are legit, the machine utilizing a 2nm chip says lots—primarily that it might be used as a standalone gadget that’s not essentially tethered to a telephone. Whether or not anybody desires that sort of {hardware} is one other query fully. Similar to wi-fi earbuds, individuals additionally like their telephones, and if you wish to see how the entire unseating the telephone with AI prepare is chugging alongside, I’d level you to the heaping wreck that’s Humane and its failed Ai Pin.

Both manner, it appears to be like like we’ll have extra premium AI devices to ogle quickly sufficient—that’s, if the tandem ever manages to get its computers—ya know—computing.