OpenAI is building a smart speaker with a camera, and that detail alone will raise every question that Alexa, Google Home, and HomePod owners have been asking about privacy in their living rooms for the past five years. There aren’t many details available about this smart home hardware device. It was teased a year ago when Jony Ive started working with OpenAI. But then things went quiet for a while.
For starters, the fact that this might be a battery-powered device is interesting. That implies that it is meant to be mobile, so do you carry it with you everywhere or just around your home? Cameras and microphones do raise privacy concerns, but people are already using voice and images within their AI platform of choice, so, honestly, that is expected.
And it’s interesting that it might have moving parts. I’m envisioning that when you speak to it, it will physically and visually indicate that it is “listening” and “responding.” Do little ears pop out? When it “looks” at something, will there be eyebrows that move?
The price point is pretty high but comparable to other smart home hubs, speakers, or other devices. But will it include OpenAI services? I’m guessing there will be a free base rate, followed by usage-based tiers. But of course, I’m purely speculating.