Greg Brockman, president of OpenAI, has revealed that the company is “building a family of devices” designed to bring its AI chatbots into everyday life. In a recent interview, Brockman predicted that within the coming years, the “vast majority” of human-computer interactions will shift from typing to spoken conversation.
Voice-First Interaction Becomes the Norm
Brockman explained that OpenAI envisions a future where users talk to their computers naturally, rather than relying on keyboards or touchscreens for most tasks. This shift aligns with the ongoing refinement of large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4 and beyond, which by 2026 are expected to handle complex, context-aware dialogues with near-human fluency. The company’s device family is being engineered to support persistent, always-on voice interactions, moving AI assistants from mobile apps into dedicated hardware.
A Broader Ecosystem for Conversational AI
The announcement signals OpenAI’s ambition to compete with the likes of Amazon (Alexa), Google (Assistant), and Apple (Siri) in the smart device space, but with a focus on advanced generative AI. Brockman hinted that the devices would not be just upgraded speakers but new form factors optimized for multimodal interaction—combining voice, vision, and touch. As of early 2026, industry observers note that such devices could leverage OpenAI’s plug-in ecosystem and real-time web browsing capabilities, offering personalized assistance for scheduling, research, creative tasks, and home automation.
Implications for Privacy and Accessibility
With voice-first computing, data privacy remains a critical concern. Brockman emphasized that OpenAI is prioritizing on-device processing and user-controlled data policies to address these issues. Additionally, the new device family aims to improve accessibility for users with visual or motor impairments, making information and services more universally available through natural speech.
While no release dates or pricing details were disclosed, Brockman’s comments underscore a strategic pivot for OpenAI: from a primarily software and API provider to a hardware maker deeply integrated into users’ daily environments. As of 2026, the AI industry is watching closely to see if OpenAI can translate its software prowess into a hardware ecosystem that truly redefines how we interact with machines.
via The Verge AI