The iPhone killer that wasn’t—or perhaps, something far more interesting? For months, Silicon Valley has been buzzing with rumors about Sam Altman and legendary designer Jony Ive cooking up a hardware revolution. The dream? A device to shatter the smartphone paradigm. But new leaks from the supply chain suggest a dramatic pivot. Code-named “Dime” (and potentially linked to the mysterious “Sweetpea”), OpenAI’s first foray into hardware isn’t a phone at all. It’s an intelligent, audio-first wearable designed to turn the world into your operating system.
Forget screens. Forget scrolling. Dime is about to bring the “Her” operating system to life, and the specs are as ambitious as the concept.
“Dime” Declassified: The Specs
Leaked reports and supply chain whispers have painted a clearer picture of what “Dime” actually is. While initial prototypes explored a smartphone-like form factor, the project has reportedly scaled back to overcome component costs and supply shortages of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM).
Here is what we know about the device slate for 2026/2027:
- Form Factor: A screenless, “pocketable” audio device or set of advanced earbuds. The design philosophy reportedly prioritizes voice interaction over visual feedback.
- The Brain: Rumors point to a custom 2nm Exynos processor, a massive leap in efficiency required for on-device AI processing without draining a tiny battery in minutes.
- Sensors: This is where it gets sci-fi. Leaked schematics hint at muscle signal sensors and ultrasonic technology. This suggests “Dime” won’t just listen; it might anticipate your intent through subtle gestures or subvocalizations.
- Design Pedigree: Designed by LoveFrom, Jony Ive’s firm. Expect the minimalism of the original iPod but with the intelligence of GPT-5.
The Sweetpea Connection
Conflicting internal names—”Dime” and “Sweetpea”—have surfaced. It’s likely “Sweetpea” refers to the specific audio module or a prototype phase, while “Dime” represents the overall project or the finalized commercial unit. A patent filing in China has reportedly confirmed the “Dime” moniker.
The Pivot: Why Audio?
Why would OpenAI, the company that broke the internet with text and image generation, settle for earbuds?
The answer lies in the constraints. Building a smartphone in 2026 is a nightmare of supply chains, carrier deals, and competing with Apple and Samsung. OpenAI doesn’t want to fight that war. They want to win the war for the interface.
By creating a dedicated audio device, OpenAI bypasses the “app trap.” You don’t open an app to use ChatGPT; the AI is the interface. This aligns perfectly with the “Her” aesthetic Altman has publicly admired. It’s an always-on, whisper-in-your-ear companion that sees what you see (via multimodal cameras, potentially) and hears what you hear.
[!NOTE]
The HBM Bottleneck: High Bandwidth Memory is the gold of the AI era. OpenAI’s decision to scale back from a more complex device to “Dime” was partly driven by the scarcity of these chips, which are essentially hoarded by NVIDIA for H100/H200 GPUs.
What This Means For You
If “Dime” launches in 2026 as predicted, it changes how we interact with AI.
- Phone-Free Focus: You could leave your phone in your pocket (or at home) for hours, relying on Dime for communication, navigation, and information.
- The End of “Apps”: Instead of tapping Uber or Spotify, you simply ask. The AI agent handles the API calls in the background.
- Privacy Concerns: An always-listening device with muscle sensors raises massive privacy red flags. OpenAI will need to prove that “Dime” respects user data more than the industry standard.
Integration with “Operator”
We recently covered OpenAI’s “Operator” agent. “Dime” is likely the hardware vessel for “Operator,” allowing the agent to take actions in the real world—booking tables, buying tickets, or guiding you through a repair—via voice commands.
The Bottom Line
“Dime” is not the iPhone killer we expected, but it might be the device we actually need. By stripping away the screen, OpenAI and Jony Ive are betting that the future of computing is ambient, not attention-grabbing. If they can pull off the 2nm efficiency and the “magic” of muscle sensors, 2026 might be the year we finally look up from our screens.
FAQ
What is the OpenAI Dime device?
“Dime” is the reported code-name for OpenAI’s upcoming first hardware device. It is expected to be a screenless, audio-first wearable (likely smart earbuds) powered by advanced AI.
When will the OpenAI Dime be released?
Leaks suggest a release window of 2026, with wider availability potentially stretching into 2027.
Is Jony Ive involved in OpenAI’s hardware?
Yes. Reports confirm that Sam Altman has collaborated with Jony Ive and his design firm, LoveFrom, to design the device.
Will Dime replace my smartphone?
Not initially. It is designed as a companion device to offload tasks to AI via voice, reducing screen time, similar to the concept of the Humane AI Pin or Rabbit R1, but likely with better integration.
