Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s First AI Gadget Might Attempt to Kill AirPods

If you’ve ever checked out a pair of AirPods and thought, “I really wish these were behind my ears and not in them,” then Jony Ive and Sam Altman is likely to be right here to avoid wasting the day.

Reports from a provide chain leaker, Smart Pikachu, who has previously shared information on rumored unreleased Apple products, point out that an anticipated AI gadget from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple head of design, Jony Ive, has AirPods in its crosshairs.

Hearing contemporary element on Openai “To-go” {hardware} venture from final report. Now confirmed it’s a particular audio product to switch Airpod, inside code identify is “Sweetpea”

On manufacturing, Foxconn has been advised to arrange for whole 5 units by This fall 2028. All not identified however a house… pic.twitter.com/SFumFfRIeF

— 智慧皮卡丘 Smart Pikachu (Weibo) (@zhihuipikachu) January 12, 2026

The gadget, codenamed “Sweetpea,” apparently, is what the leaker is describing as a “special audio product” that resembles an earpiece. Two pill-shaped devices, that are housed in an egg-shaped case when not in use, could be located behind the ear. From there, I assume they’ll do stuff like play audio or place calls. I say “assume” right here as a result of we don’t but know what Altman and Ive’s gadget actually does but.

If there was one factor I’d guess all of the AirPods on this planet on, it’s that Sweetpea facilities on an AI voice assistant powered by ChatGPT. Using microphones and a voice assistant, these not-earbuds may make calls, play audio, or perhaps even management stuff in your telephone. If that sounds so much like what you’ll be able to already do with wi-fi earbuds as they exist proper now, effectively… that’s as a result of it’s. According to Smart Pikachu:

“[the] main processor target is 2nm smart phone style chip (exynos most favored). a custom chip also been developed to allowing the device to “replace iphone actions by commanding Siri.”

Good concept or not, Smart Pikachu says that Sweetpea could possibly be the primary AI gadget we see from Altman and Ive’s collaboration, with a projected launch round September. After Sweetpea, we may see even wackier {hardware} that will embrace a “home-style device,” because the leaker places it, or—and I’m not making this up—a pen? I assume, of the merchandise probably within the pipeline for Altman and Ive, Sweetpea sounds probably the most helpful, but when I’m being sincere, these little earpieces are going to need to do extra than simply dupe AirPods’ greatest options to make an impression.

The truth of the matter is that folks like wi-fi earbuds—not solely is the shape issue acquainted, confirmed, and low cost to make, however in addition they enable for stuff like lively noise cancellation (ANC), which is a must have for those who dwell in a crowded metropolis like me or for those who ever fly on an airplane.

Clearly, there’s one thing in Sweetpea that we’re not seeing but, although. If Smart Pikachu’s leaks are legit, the gadget utilizing a 2nm chip says so much—primarily that it could possibly be used as a standalone gadget that’s not essentially tethered to a telephone. Whether anybody desires that sort of {hardware} is one other query solely. Just like wi-fi earbuds, individuals additionally like their telephones, and if you wish to see how the entire unseating the telephone with AI practice is chugging alongside, I’d level you to the heaping wreck that’s Humane and its failed Ai Pin.

Either manner, it appears like we’ll have extra premium AI devices to ogle quickly sufficient—that’s, if the tandem ever manages to get its computer systems—ya know—computing.