OpenAI, recognized for its development of ChatGPT models, plans to unveil a new audio language model in the first quarter of 2026. According to a report by The Information, this initiative marks a strategic move toward creating an audio-based hardware device.
The report, citing numerous sources familiar with the plansâincluding both current and former employeesâindicates OpenAI is consolidating engineering, product, and research teams under a unified project. This project focuses on enhancing audio models, which currently trail behind text models in accuracy and speed.
Despite the availability of a voice interface, a significant number of ChatGPT users continue to prefer the text-based option. OpenAI aims to change this trend by significantly improving audio model performance, which could lead to increased adoption of voice interfaces across various devices, such as in-vehicle systems.
Looking ahead, OpenAI intends to roll out a series of physical devices, beginning with one centered around audio capabilities. Internal discussions at the company have explored different device formats, including smart speakers and glasses, with an emphasis on audio interactions over traditional screen-based interfaces.