penAI has been accused of a lack of focus for its forays into a wide variety of initiatives, from healthcare to third-party apps to a web browser to its Sora video generator to AI data centers. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's comments targeting Apple as a bigger long-term competitor than Google certainly haven't quelled those fears of overreach.

Altman reportedly told a group of journalists that the AI battles of the future will be won through devices rather than frontier models. The fact that Apple teamed up with Google rather than OpenAI to power the next version of Siri has likely only fueled Altman's competitive spirit.

Now we have a new report out of China that OpenAI is working with manufacturing giant Foxconn on an AirPod-like audio device codenamed "Sweetpea" that wraps around the ear and functions as an audio-powered AI assistant. Sounds like a form factor similar to a classic Bluetooth headset or a high-end pair of earbuds.

The report, from supply chain leaker SmartPikachu, says OpenAI is using cutting-edge hardware for the device (including a 2nm processor), plans to manufacture 40-50 million devices in the first year, and that will be released around September.

The planned volume of devices might be the biggest surprise, if correct. For context, Meta's Ray-Ban AI smart glasses, which have similar features, sold about 2-3 million pairs last year, and Apple currently sells about 65 million pairs of AirPods per year. To nearly match AirPods in their first full year would be quite a feat for OpenAI's device.

Another interesting insight from the report was that OpenAI is working on a total of up to 5 devices that include a "home style device" (sounds like an Amazon Alexa smart speaker) and a pen. The pen reference would corroborate a recent report that OpenAI was working on an AI device shaped like a traditional writing instrument.