Ever wished your meeting notes could magically organize themselves? OpenAI’s secretive hardware project with design legend Jony Ive might be exactly that. According to industry tipster Smart Pikachu, the company is developing a screenless pen codenamed “Gumdrop” that transcribes handwriting and voice directly to ChatGPT through a paired smartphone.
The Gumdrop pen, part of OpenAI’s 2025 merger with Ive’s io Products firm, represents a radical departure from screen-obsessed AI devices. Instead of another wearable that demands your attention, this pocketable tool lets you jot notes naturally while AI handles the digital heavy lifting. Think of it as a smart stylus that actually makes sense, converting your chicken scratch into searchable, organized ChatGPT entries without forcing you to stare at yet another display.
Manufacturing Drama Mirrors AI Hardware Struggles
Here’s where things get messy. OpenAI initially planned to partner with Chinese manufacturer Luxshare, but a “dispute” over production location pushed the project to iPhone assembler Foxconn. The shift echoes the troubled path of Humane’s AI Pin, which promised revolutionary AI interaction but delivered disappointing results and mass returns.
Foxconn is reportedly eyeing Vietnam as the primary manufacturing hub, with potential backup sites in Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, or Indiana. This geographic shuffle isn’t just about logistics. It’s OpenAI deliberately avoiding Chinese manufacturing amid geopolitical tensions and supply chain concerns. The move could delay the already-pushed-back late 2026 launch, but it positions Gumdrop as a politically safer bet for Western markets.
Success hinges on seamless phone integration. If the Gumdrop pen requires constant fiddling with Bluetooth connections or drains your phone battery, it’ll join the graveyard of failed AI wearables. However, if OpenAI nails the execution, this could finally deliver on the promise of ambient AI that enhances your workflow instead of complicating it.
For now, alternatives like Livescribe smart pens offer analog-to-digital conversion without AI smarts. But if you’re already deep in the ChatGPT ecosystem, waiting for Gumdrop might be worth it, assuming OpenAI can avoid the manufacturing nightmares and delays that have plagued other AI hardware attempts.
