OpenAI's CFO says she can't say if Jony Ive's device is an earpiece

During a live interview at the Liquity Summit in California, OpenAI's CFO, Sarah Friar, shared her thoughts on the company's much-anticipated AI hardware. Describing her experience with the device, she remarked, "It feels very natural, but it feels very lovable." When pressed by the co-hosts of the 'All-In Podcast' about whether the device designed by renowned designer Jony Ive is an earpiece, she humorously suggested that revealing too much could lead to trouble. "If I tell you it's an earpiece, Jony will come and steal my teenage son," she quipped, adding, "I might give him to him." Friar expressed a deep emotional connection to the device, noting, "What Jony and team are really good at is bringing humanity to devices. I don't really know how to explain that well, but when you see it, you feel it." OpenAI has kept tight-lipped about the specifics of the device, fueling speculation and curiosity among tech enthusiasts. Earlier this year, OpenAI dismissed a rumored advertisement featuring actor Alexander Skarsgård that showcased an orb-shaped device and earbuds as "totally fake." Moreover, CEO Sam Altman has clarified that the device is not a phone, dispelling another layer of speculation. As for the timeline, Friar assured that OpenAI plans to reveal the device by the end of this year, despite previous legal filings indicating a shipping date as late as February 2027. In May 2025, OpenAI revealed its acquisition of Ive's AI hardware startup, IO, for approximately $6.5 billion, with both Altman and Ive expressing intentions to create a "family of AI products." Friar emphasized the importance of exceptional design in technology, stating, "Technology can be very mechanistic, but we all know great design just makes everything fade away, right?" She further remarked, "The simple is hard," echoing sentiments previously shared by Altman and Ive about the allure of their upcoming devices. Altman recalled Ive's early assertion that they would know they had perfected the design when consumers found it irresistible, joking about the desire to "lick it or take a bite out of it."