The AI Tamagotchis are coming
Meta and OpenAI are both betting on cute AI agents in physical hardware to crack the dedicated device market that has failed repeatedly.
Why it matters
Two major AI labs are attempting to solve the dedicated AI hardware problem—which has defeated companies like Humane and Friend—by pairing physical devices with consumer-grade AI agents. This tests whether software charm can overcome hardware's notorious difficulty, and signals a shift toward agent-first product strategy.
The key facts
6 to knowMeta and OpenAI both launching physical hardware with AI agents within the next year
OpenAI partnering with Jony Ive (ex-Apple designer) on hardware project
Previous dedicated AI devices (Friend, Humane AI Pin) have faced backlash and poor adoption
Strategy: test appetite for physical hardware via 'cutesy software agents'
Public sentiment against AI growing; hardware backlash may worsen
Published: September 30, 2026
Go to the source
The Verge AItheverge.com
Publisher excerpt: Sam Altman onstage at OpenAI’s DevDay 2026. | Image: Hayden Field / The Verge While AI has made plenty of inroads on people's phones and computers, it's largely failed in dedicated devices. But over the next year, two major AI companies, Meta and OpenAI, will attempt to change that. And they're…