OpenAI made its debut in the AI hardware market with the launch of a mini keyboard for users of its coding offering Codex.
Created in collaboration with Work Louder, the kbd-1.0-codex-micro—also called Codex Micro—is a small keyboard that comes with a mix of buttons and a joystick/dial as well as lighting options to help users control their agentic AI actions in Codex.
The mini keyboard comes with both silent and clicky keys, and users can pre-order the product for $230.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared his preference, noting, “amazing to me that some people want the silent version”.
OpenAI has explained that with the mini keyboard, users can monitor active chats, track agent activities though live RGB feedback, and map their most-used actions onto the controls.
Both trained and vibe-based coders can use the joystick to carry out Codex tasks like debugging an error or refactoring code, as well as turn a dial to adjust reasoning level at a certain point in time.
The device is compatible with both Mac and Windows. Buyers will get the Codex Icon Keyset with 32 extra keycaps, apart from warranty and support.
However, the mini keyboard is not the highly-anticipated device that OpenAI is reportedly working on in collaboration with former Apple design veteran Jony Ive. As per a Bloomberg report, this piece of hardware is likely a screen-free smart speaker that will allow users to leverage ChatGPT’s capabilities and treat it as a companion of sorts.
The launch of the mini keyboard comes as OpenAI is currently locked in a legal feud with Apple over the alleged theft of trade secrets from the iPhone-maker—which the ChatGPT-maker denies. The proceedings are ongoing.
