OpenAI is shifting its focus toward audio AI, aiming to create an audio-first personal device expected to launch in about a year. Over the past two months, the company has merged various engineering, product, and research teams to enhance its audio models. This trend aligns with the broader tech industry movement away from screens, as smart speakers and voice assistants become common in many households. Other companies are exploring similar audio innovations. Meta recently introduced a feature for Ray-Ban smart glasses that uses multiple microphones to improve conversation clarity in noisy environments. Google is testing “Audio Overviews” to convert search results into conversational formats. Tesla plans to integrate a chatbot, Grok, into its vehicles, offering a voice assistant that manages navigation and climate through natural dialogue. Startups are also getting in on the action, although results vary. The Humane AI Pin struggled with its screenless design, while the Friend AI pendant raised privacy and ethical issues. Companies like Sandbar and Eric Migicovsky’s startup are developing AI rings set to launch in 2026, allowing users to interact verbally without traditional screens. OpenAI's upcoming audio model aims for a more natural sound and better conversational abilities, such as handling interruptions and speaking simultaneously with users. The company envisions a range of devices, potentially including smart glasses and speakers, that function more like companions than mere tools. Former Apple design chief Jony Ive, now with OpenAI, emphasizes a goal of reducing device addiction through audio-first design, marking a shift in how technology might interact with users moving forward.