A mysterious metallic device has sparked intrigue and speculation, and it's all thanks to Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb and the US Chief Design Officer. In a viral social media post, Gebbia was seen in San Francisco, donning a pair of unique metallic earbuds and a matching disc-shaped device on the counter.
The internet was quick to theorize, with many suggesting it could be a prototype from OpenAI's upcoming hardware line, designed in collaboration with Apple's Jony Ive. However, OpenAI remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on the potential connection.
But here's where it gets controversial... The device Gebbia was seen with bears a striking resemblance to a fake OpenAI ad that went viral in February, featuring actor Alexander Skarsgård interacting with an AI device. OpenAI denied the ad's authenticity at the time, calling it "fake news."
The earbuds Gebbia wore also resemble the Huawei FreeClip 2, an open-earbud model released earlier this year. However, the clamshell case on the counter is different from Huawei's latest offering, and it's highly unlikely a government official would be seen using Huawei tech due to security concerns.
WIRED's audio experts believe Gebbia is likely wearing open earbuds similar to Soundcore's AeroClips or Sony's LinkBuds Clip. They also ran the imagery through AI detection software, which suggested a low likelihood of it being AI-generated. However, AI detectors are not infallible, leaving room for doubt.
Could this be a soft launch teaser for OpenAI's hardware? The timing aligns with the company's plans to ship devices to consumers in early 2027. Yet, OpenAI has previously denied any involvement with the pseudo-ad for the metallic AI hardware.
Another theory suggests Gebbia's device could be a prototype from another company, as numerous startups and tech giants are developing hardware centered around generative AI models.
It's a head-scratcher as to why Gebbia would test prototype hardware in a public setting like San Francisco, where tech industry folks are more likely to recognize him. As the first Chief Design Officer, appointed by one of Trump's executive orders, Gebbia's role primarily focuses on updating government websites for better usability.
The anticipation for OpenAI's hardware has been building since May last year when Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced their partnership. Interestingly, both Ive and Altman were seen sipping espressos in the announcement video, a small detail that could be mere coincidence.
Despite OpenAI's denials, social media commenters remain hopeful that this mysterious device could be a glimpse of their hardware or that another startup has gained access to a US official for testing.
So, is this all just a storm in a teacup, or is Gebbia rocking a prototype that will change the game? Only time will tell. In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes peeled for updates and enjoy my espresso.
