OpenAI is making its debut in the hardware market with a new device, distinct from its anticipated main project rumored to be an AI-powered smart speaker. This initial hardware offering is a collaboration with keyboard manufacturer Work Louder.
This release is not the much-speculated AI-powered gadget being developed with former Apple design chief Jony Ive, a venture already entangled in a high-profile lawsuit. Instead, OpenAI's first hardware product is specifically designed to enhance interaction with its coding platform, Codex.
Dubbed the Codex Micro, this square-shaped block of buttons is the result of a partnership between the AI giant and Work Louder. OpenAI has indicated this is a limited-run collaboration, intended to provide users with advanced capabilities for monitoring and managing their AI agents.
The pad bears a strong resemblance to Work Louder’s Creator Micro 2. Marketing visuals showcase an identical arrangement of 13 mechanical switches, complemented by a joystick, a dial, and a touch sensor. Its design also shares similarities with a separate controller Work Louder produced in collaboration with Figma in 2023.
OpenAI announced that the Codex Micro will be priced at $230 and will be available for purchase through Supply Co, exclusively while supplies last. The company did not disclose the precise number of units produced for this limited partnership.
In an explanatory video, Work Louder co-founder Mike Di Genova highlighted the device's capabilities. The Micro features six frosted keys that offer a "live view of your Codex threads," utilizing distinct colors to indicate task statuses such as completion, pending feedback, active operation, or error. Additionally, dedicated command keys can be configured for common actions like push-to-talk, accepting or rejecting changes, and sending commands. The device also includes 32 supplementary keycaps adorned with Codex icons. The joystick and dial facilitate the initiation of common workflows and adjustment of reasoning levels, respectively, with OpenAI confirming that all controls are fully configurable via the ChatGPT desktop application.
Crucially, this new device remains separate from OpenAI’s primary hardware initiative, which is still under development with Jony Ive. While specific details on that project are scarce, reports suggest it will manifest as a smart speaker enabling conversational interaction with ChatGPT, with a rumored launch sometime next year. This larger hardware endeavor has recently drawn renewed attention following a lawsuit filed by Apple, accusing OpenAI of appropriating hardware secrets—allegations OpenAI has vehemently denied as being without merit.
The Editorial Staff at AIChief is a team of professional content writers with extensive experience in AI and marketing. Founded in 2025, AIChief has quickly grown into the largest free AI resource hub in the industry.