After establishing dominance in the generative AI software field, OpenAI is attempting to extend its influence to hardware devices. However, the AI giant's first consumer-grade product is reportedly undergoing a "specification downgrade."

Due to the global memory chip crisis, which has caused a sharp increase in BOM (Bill of Materials) costs, this device, which carries OpenAI's ambition for "on-device intelligence," may be downgraded to a basic, cloud-dependent headset upon its initial release.

**From "Standalone Device" to "Basic Headset"**

According to the well-known tech source Smart Pikachu, OpenAI's first hardware, with the internal codename "Sweetpea," has been given the consumer-facing name "Dime."

The original technical blueprint for the product was highly ambitious: it planned to feature a Samsung 2nm process Exynos chip, giving the earbuds standalone computing power comparable to a smartphone to enable complex on-device AI processing. However, this vision is now colliding with a "cost wall" in the supply chain. Persistently high prices for memory components have made the BOM cost of the high-spec chipset方案 unmanageable.

For commercial reasons, OpenAI has been forced to adjust its strategy. Smart Pikachu revealed that the first-generation Dime product may shed its "smartphone-like" high-performance attributes and revert to a "simple headset" form factor.

This means the anticipated "portable AI computing center" will be delayed, and the initial product will likely only serve as a conduit for accessing cloud-based large language models.

**Vietnamese Manufacturing and 50 Million Unit Target**

Despite the compromises in product definition, OpenAI's commercial push is reportedly aggressive. Company executive Lehane explicitly listed hardware as the top priority project at the Davos Forum.

A previous report indicated that OpenAI is likely to officially launch the product in September 2026. It is expected to be manufactured by Foxconn in Vietnam, with a sales target of 40 to 50 million units in its first year.

**Second Consumer Device**

In addition to the earbuds, OpenAI is also developing a second consumer device codenamed "Gumdrop." This device is shaped like a pen or an Apple iPod Shuffle, featuring a screenless design focused on ambient sensing and interaction. Its core functions reportedly include:

* Contextual awareness through a camera and microphone. * Running customized local AI models, supplemented by cloud computing power. * Supporting the instant conversion of handwritten notes into text and uploading them to ChatGPT. * Possessing device-to-device communication capabilities similar to a smartphone.