OpenAI has launched a $230 keyboard designed to pair with its AI coding assistant, Codex. The Codex Micro, co-designed with Work Louder, features light-up 'Agent Keys' that display agent status, customizable Command Keys for frequent Codex actions, and a joystick for launching workflows. The device also includes a dial to adjust the 'reasoning' level, or computing power, an agent uses for tasks. According to OpenAI, the keyboard serves as a 'command center for agentic work,' allowing users to manage their AI coding agents directly from the device. The keyboard is controllable and customizable via the ChatGPT desktop app. It is marketed as a limited-run collaboration, suggesting it is more of a novelty item than a mass-market product. OpenAI emphasized that the Micro is intended to herald its entry into the hardware market, rather than being a mainstream offering.
The device is part of a broader hardware strategy for OpenAI, which also includes a yet-to-be-released smart speaker described as portable, screenless, and incorporating 'mechanical elements that can move on their own.' Bloomberg reported that the speaker is still in development and subject to change, with details remaining unclear. The project is reportedly being designed by former Apple engineers, a detail that has not gone unnoticed by Apple, which recently sued OpenAI for trade secret theft. OpenAI has denied any wrongdoing, but the legal battle adds context to the company's hardware ambitions. The Bloomberg report highlights that the speaker is still in development and subject to change, with details remaining unclear.
OpenAI told TechCrunch in an email that the Micro is a limited-run collaboration, signaling it is more of a novelty item than a product designed for mass appeal. The company has not provided further details on the broader hardware plans, which include the yet-to-be-released smart speaker. The legal dispute with Apple, which accuses OpenAI of trade secret theft, adds an additional layer of complexity to OpenAI's hardware strategy. The company has denied the allegations, but the ongoing litigation underscores the challenges of entering the hardware market.
Source: techcrunch
