OpenAI reportedly tests 'Project Gumdrop' AI pen for 2026 launch

OpenAI is rumored to be working on a smart pen called Project Gumdrop, which is set to launch in 2026. This pen can read your handwriting, record your voice, and send everything straight to ChatGPT for instant help. The design is led by a famous Apple designer, and the pen will be built in the U.S. by Foxconn. People are excited because the pen fits into how we already write and talk, but some worry about privacy since it can record so much. If it succeeds, the Gumdrop pen could change how we use AI every day, moving it from screens to our hands.

Rumors surrounding the OpenAI 'Project Gumdrop' AI pen are solidifying, with multiple leaks pointing to a 2026 launch. According to reports from AI Daily, this screen-free device is designed to transcribe handwriting, record audio, and send both directly to ChatGPT for instant analysis and feedback AI Daily leak. If the leaks prove accurate, Project Gumdrop would mark OpenAI's first entry into consumer hardware, aiming to create a powerful data pipeline from the physical world into its AI models.

Leaked Gumdrop Features and Jony Ive's Design

Project Gumdrop is an AI-powered smart pen designed to capture handwriting and voice notes, sending the data directly to ChatGPT for processing. It aims to integrate AI into daily tasks without a screen by using a familiar pen format, offering a frictionless way to digitize and analyze real-world information.

OpenAI has reportedly enlisted former Apple design chief Jony Ive and his studio, LoveFrom, to shape the device's aesthetics, according to a Moneycontrol report. Prototypes suggest a conventional pen form factor that houses advanced microphones and sensors. Leaked specifications, while subject to change, include:

Real-time handwriting recognition streamed directly to ChatGPT.
A far-field microphone array capable of capturing audio from up to 3 meters away.
A physical privacy switch to instantly disable all recording hardware.
USB-C charging with an estimated 48-hour standby battery life.

A pocket-audio variant has appeared in some photographs, but it is unclear if this is a separate product or an earlier, abandoned design.

US-Based Manufacturing with Foxconn

The Gumdrop pen's manufacturing is expected to be handled by Foxconn at its facilities in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Texas. This move is part of a broader infrastructure agreement OpenAI signed in late 2025, allowing for prototype development within the U.S. and avoiding the need to send sensitive intellectual property to China OpenAI-Foxconn collaboration. Sources suggest that pilot production could begin in the second half of 2026, aligning with the rumored 2026-2027 retail launch window.

Market Strategy: Why an AI Pen Now?

Recent AI hardware like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin faced adoption challenges because they required users to learn new behaviors. An AI pen, however, avoids this hurdle by integrating into an established habit: writing. By capturing data from everyday tasks like meeting notes or sketches, Gumdrop could create a significant market advantage. With the conversational AI market projected to hit $20.7 billion in 2026, a device that enables frictionless data capture could dramatically expand OpenAI's user base.

Privacy and Security: The Biggest Hurdles for Gumdrop

Despite the potential, significant privacy questions remain unanswered. A device capable of continuous handwriting and voice capture presents major governance challenges, especially in regulated industries. Without a clear policy from OpenAI on on-device encryption, data deletion protocols, or enterprise compliance features, many corporate customers may hesitate. Widespread adoption will likely depend on late-stage demos that prove Gumdrop can reliably separate personal data from confidential business information.

Currently, Project Gumdrop remains in the prototype stage, generating both excitement among productivity enthusiasts and skepticism from security experts. Whether it ultimately launches as a pen, an audio device, or a combination of both, the project clearly signals OpenAI's strategic investment in moving ChatGPT beyond the screen and directly into the user's workflow.