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OpenAI Steals a Page from Apple’s Hardware Playbook
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Subtle Reality
September 22, 2025
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Featured
⚙️ OpenAI Steals a Page from Apple’s Hardware Playbook
What’s Going On
OpenAI is aggressively hiring former Apple employees from design, hardware, and manufacturing teams. Offers reportedly include over $1 million in stock for senior hires. AppleInsider+2The Information+2
Tang Tan, longtime Apple veteran and now OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer, is leading the effort. He’s bringing in designers and engineers with experience in cameras, audio, wearables, and UI. AppleInsider+29to5Mac+2
OpenAI has struck birth deals with Apple’s supply chain partners. Luxshare has already been contracted to assemble at least one of OpenAI’s devices. Goertek is being approached to provide speaker modules and other components. The Indian Express+3Reuters+39to5Mac+3
What Devices Might Be Coming
One product resembles a smart speaker without a screen. Others being considered include smart glasses, a wearable pin, a digital voice recorder. Target launch is late 2026 or early 2027. Tom's Hardware+39to5Mac+3The Information+3
What This Means for Apple
Apple is reportedly watching closely. There are indications that it’s trying to stem “talent losses” by limiting travel of manufacturing/supply-chain teams abroad, among other internal moves. AppleInsider+1
The relationship between Apple and OpenAI is complicated by both collaboration (e.g. in software, Siri) and now what feels like competition in hardware. 9to5Mac+2The Information+2
💡 My Take
This is strategic and bold. OpenAI isn’t just thinking about being a model provider; they’re aiming for devices that integrate tightly with their AI stack. By pulling in Apple-level design talent and leveraging the very supply chain that enables Apple’s scale, they could hit speed and quality in ways few start-ups can.
A few risks though:
Hardware is notoriously hard and margin-tight. Designs, reliability, supply chain issues—all tough.
Competing with Apple in hardware means matching not just specs but polish and ecosystem.
Talents and suppliers jumping ship could strain relationships, IP concerns, and secrecy.
But if OpenAI pulls it off by late ’26 / early ’27, we might see the first serious AI-device contender that isn’t just a phone or screen accessory—but a new class of AI-native hardware.
Featured
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