A recent leak suggests OpenAI is working on an AI-powered audio device that could function as a serious alternative to AirPods.
The rumour comes from a detailed post shared on X by @zhihuipikachu, who claims OpenAI is developing an audio wearable codenamed “Sweetpea.”
According to the leak, the device is positioned as a direct competitor to Apple’s earbuds, blending premium hardware with deeply integrated AI features.
Sweetpea is said to feature a distinctive metal design described as “eggstone-like,” alongside a 2nm smartphone-class chip and a custom processor built specifically for AI tasks. More intriguingly, the post claims the device could replicate certain iPhone actions while still issuing commands to Siri.
If accurate, that would make Sweetpea far more than just another pair of wireless earbuds. The leak claims OpenAI is aiming to build an audio device that acts as a hands-free AI companion, potentially handling everyday tasks through natural language rather than app-based controls.
This lines up neatly with OpenAI’s broader ambitions. Last year, the company acquired io Products, a hardware startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a deal reportedly worth around $6.5 billion. The acquisition made it clear that OpenAI wants to move beyond software and into what it calls “physical AI.”
The same leak claims Sweetpea could launch as early as September, with first-year production targets of 40–50 million units. It also alleges that Foxconn has been tasked with producing multiple prototype devices, including not just the audio wearable, but also a pen-like device and a home-focused product, all reportedly targeting a 2028 release window.
In a joint statement released when the OpenAI–io partnership was announced, Sam Altman and Jony Ive said their goal was to build products that “inspire, empower and enable,” created by a team spanning hardware, software, science, and manufacturing.
For now, Sweetpea remains firmly in rumour territory. But if OpenAI really is building an AI-first alternative to AirPods, it could signal a much bigger shift — one where AI doesn’t just live on your screen, but sits in your ear, quietly handling the things your phone used to do.
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