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

Should you’ve ever checked out a pair of AirPods and thought, “I actually want these had been behind my ears and never in them,” then Jony Ive and Sam Altman is likely to be right here to save lots of the day.

Reviews 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.

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

On manufacturing, Foxconn has been informed to organize for complete 5 gadgets by This autumn 2028. All not recognized however a house… https://t.co/svOCBuyapI pic.twitter.com/SFumFfRIeF

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

The system, codenamed “Sweetpea,” apparently, is what the leaker is describing as a “particular 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 will 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 wager all of the AirPods on this planet on, it’s that Sweetpea facilities on an AI voice assistant powered by ChatGPT. Utilizing microphones and a voice assistant, these not-earbuds might make calls, play audio, or perhaps even management stuff in your cellphone. If that sounds so much like what you possibly can already do with wi-fi earbuds as they exist proper now, nicely… that’s as a result of it’s. In response to Good Pikachu:

“[the] fundamental processor goal is 2nm sensible cellphone fashion chip (exynos most favored). a customized chip additionally been developed to permitting the system to “exchange iphone actions by commanding Siri.”

Good concept or not, Good Pikachu says that Sweetpea may very well be the primary AI gadget we see from Altman and Ive’s collaboration, with a projected launch round September. After Sweetpea, we might see even wackier {hardware} that will embrace a “home-style system,” because the leaker places it, or—and I’m not making this up—a pen? I suppose, of the merchandise doubtlessly 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’ finest options to make an impression.

The very fact of the matter is that folks like wi-fi earbuds—not solely is the shape issue acquainted, confirmed, and low cost to make, however additionally they enable for stuff like energetic noise cancellation (ANC), which is a must have in case you reside in a crowded metropolis like me or in case you ever fly on an airplane.

Clearly, there’s one thing in Sweetpea that we’re not seeing but, although. If Good Pikachu’s leaks are legit, the system utilizing a 2nm chip says so much—primarily that it may very well be used as a standalone gadget that’s not essentially tethered to a cellphone. Whether or not anybody needs that kind of {hardware} is one other query fully. Similar to wi-fi earbuds, individuals additionally like their telephones, and if you wish to see how the entire unseating the cellphone with AI prepare is chugging alongside, I’d level you to the heaping wreck that’s Humane and its failed Ai Pin.

Both method, it seems like we’ll have extra premium AI devices to ogle quickly sufficient—that’s, if the tandem ever manages to get its computers—ya know—computing.