OpenAIs first physical device is here, and its not what we expected

OpenAI's First Hardware Product: A $230 Mechanical Keyboard

OpenAI's first hardware product is a $230 mechanical keyboard, not the AI companion device many expected. OpenAI's long-anticipated entry into consumer hardware has arrived, but it's not the Jony Ive collab everyone has been waiting for.

The company has launched Codex Micro, a $230 mechanical keypad developed with peripheral maker Work Louder, sold through OpenAI's "Supply Co." storefront as part of a "Work Louder Co-Lab" collaboration.

Device Features

The device is a compact 13-key controller designed to work alongside OpenAI's Codex coding assistant. It features:

• A rotary dial to adjust the AI's "reasoning level"
• A joystick to trigger coding workflows such as reviewing pull requests or debugging errors
• Programmable command keys for actions like accepting or rejecting suggestions
• RGB backlighting that changes color to reflect what an active Codex session is doing

It ships with 32 interchangeable keycaps, connects via Bluetooth or USB-C, and is compatible with Mac and Windows. Pre-orders list an estimated ship date of July 24.

Context and Reaction

The launch stands in contrast to OpenAI's other hardware effort: a screenless, "humanlike" AI companion device in development with former Apple designer Jony Ive, whose startup io OpenAI acquired last year. That product, described in recent reporting as capable of tracking a user's surroundings and habits, has yet to reach the market.

Previous AI devices, including Humane's AI Pin and the Friend pendant, both struggled to gain traction after launch.

Reaction to Codex Micro has been mixed online, with some on Reddit questioning whether the release was a joke and criticizing its price as steep for a peripheral aimed at a narrow set of developer workflows.

Disclosure

Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones. In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].