TECHNOLOGY · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Meta and OpenAI Set Sights on Physical AI Devices Amid Backlash
WHY IT MATTERS
The initiative could reshape how consumers interact with AI, but its success hinges on overcoming past backlash and proving that physical devices can deliver value beyond software alone.
What happened
In a bid to expand AI beyond smartphones and laptops, Meta and OpenAI announced plans to launch dedicated hardware featuring playful software agents. The move follows a pattern of companies testing the market for physical AI companions, a strategy that has drawn criticism for devices like Meta’s Friend and Humane’s AI Pin.
OpenAI is partnering with former Apple designer Jony Ive to develop its hardware, signaling a high‑profile effort to overcome the industry’s long‑standing belief that “hardware is hard.”
The companies aim to gauge consumer appetite for tangible AI, hoping to turn the tide on a market that has seen frustration and backlash grow.
PRIMARY SOURCES
The AI Tamagotchis are coming
The Verge · Hayden Field · Discovery only; Vox Media copyright terms apply
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Sep 30, 2026, 6:15 PM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Sep 30, 2026, 6:15 PM