OpenAI’s first hardware is taking shape as a doughnut-shaped speaker amid improvements in GPT-5.6 Sol

OpenAI is moving forward on two fronts at once. Recent developments point to both immediate improvements in its AI models and more details about a distinctive physical product that could change how people interact with ChatGPT.

A Bloomberg report has given a clearer look at OpenAI’s first hardware device, described as the “physical manifestation of ChatGPT.” The product is expected to take a doughnut-like shape roughly the size of a hockey puck, made from high-quality metal and notably without a display.

It’s battery-powered for portability, so it could sit on a nightstand, kitchen counter, or desk, or be carried around the house. It’s said to include a camera system and sensors for visual input, along with speaker grilles, microphones, and lights that show when it’s listening.

Moving parts may also give the device a bit of personality by signaling responses. Pricing is projected in the $300 to $400 range, higher than typical smart speakers, with a potential launch in 2027. OpenAI has indicated this could be the first of several devices.

On the software side, OpenAI has rolled out some meaningful updates to GPT-5.6 that users can take advantage of right now. GPT-5.6 Sol now features dynamic response lengths that adapt to how complex a query is, roughly 68% fewer factual errors, and a new reasoning slider for Plus and Pro subscribers that works similarly to effort settings in other models.

Meanwhile, GPT-5.6 Luna has become the default for Free and Go users, offering unlimited text chats and a Think button for deeper reasoning. There are also additional safeguards for users under 18 that block romantic roleplay, age-restricted content, and self-harm prompts.

These parallel moves highlight OpenAI’s dual approach: improving accessible AI tools while preparing premium hardware that puts its models more deeply into everyday life. The doughnut-shaped speaker, if it actually arrives, would move ChatGPT out of apps and browsers and into a tangible companion, while the model updates deliver practical gains in accuracy and usability right away. Together, they show a company expanding beyond pure software toward a more integrated ecosystem.

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