New Delhi, Oct. 7 -- OpenAI and designer Jony Ive's collaborative screen-free AI device, part of a $6.5 billion acquisition of Ive's startup io, is facing delays ahead of its anticipated 2026 release. The device is palm-sized and is meant to be used at all times with a camera, microphone, and a speaker to produce an ambient and context-aware digital assistant.

Engineers are struggling with the device's behavioral logic, determining when it should actively listen or remain silent. Balancing persistent awareness with user comfort has emerged as a major technical challenge.

Additionally, the computational demands of running OpenAI's large language models on a device intended for mass use are proving significant. The infrastructure needed t...