OpenAI has unified multiple engineering, product, and research teams over the past two months to overhaul its audio models ahead of an audio-first personal device expected to launch in about a year.
The company's new audio model, slated for early 2026, will reportedly sound more natural, handle interruptions like an actual conversation partner, and even speak while users are talking—capabilities current models lack.
The hardware push follows OpenAI's $6.5 billion acquisition in May of io, the startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, who has prioritized reducing device addiction through audio-first design.
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