Jony Ive’s first OpenAI device said to be ‘audio-based’

OpenAI is intensifying its focus on audio artificial intelligence technologies, consolidating teams and overhauling its voice models to support an upcoming AI-powered personal device that emphasizes voice interaction over traditional screens.
According to a report published on January 1, 2026, by The Information, OpenAI has unified its engineering, product, and research teams over the past two months to advance its audio AI capabilities. This internal reorganization aims to improve the company&