The First Product of the OpenAI and Jony Ive Partnership May Be an AI-Powered Smart Pen

The collaboration between OpenAI and legendary designer Jony Ive may soon materialize into a tangible product. Back in May, OpenAI acquired io, a hardware startup operating under Jony Ive’s LoveFrom design studio—a move that immediately fueled speculation across the tech world. Now, new rumors are shedding light on what this long-rumored device might actually be.

According to recent reports, the first product born from the OpenAI–Jony Ive partnership could be an AI-powered smart pen. This would not be an ordinary writing instrument, but a highly advanced device. Previously described as “context-aware,” the pen is expected to understand its surroundings, interpret user intent, and adapt to different tasks in real time. With io now officially part of OpenAI, it seems almost certain that the pen will be deeply integrated with cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

This smart pen is poised to become OpenAI’s first consumer hardware product. However, the company’s ambitions reportedly go much further. Industry insiders suggest that OpenAI is simultaneously developing at least two additional hardware devices, one of which is rumored to be a portable AI-driven audio device.

Manufacturing plans also reveal strategic decisions. Foxconn is said to be the primary manufacturer, with production most likely taking place in Vietnam. Although Luxshare was initially considered, OpenAI reportedly decided against manufacturing in China. There is even a slim possibility that Foxconn could produce the device in the United States, highlighting OpenAI’s cautious approach to supply chain geography.

These upcoming devices are being positioned as a “third core” category—designed to complement laptops and smartphones rather than replace them. The idea of a third essential personal device is not new, and history shows that many such attempts have failed. Recent examples include AI-focused “pin” devices that struggled to gain traction. Whether OpenAI and Jony Ive can succeed where others have fallen short remains an open question—one that only time will answer.