OpenAI Launches $230 AI Keyboard Amid Questions Over Ad Revenue Forecasts

OpenAI unveiled the Codex Micro, a $230 limited-edition keyboard, as doubts about the company's ambitious advertising revenue projections surface and investors weigh mounting legal and competitive challenges.

According to TechCrunch, the Codex Micro features illuminated "Agent Keys" that display AI agent status, programmable command keys, a joystick for launching workflows, and a dial that lets users adjust how much computing power AI agents use while completing coding tasks. OpenAI described the device as a limited-run collaboration with mechanical keyboard maker Work Louder for its Codex AI coding assistant rather than a mass-market product.

The hardware debut comes days after AdWeek reported OpenAI's advertising business is on pace to fall roughly 90% short of its long-term revenue projections according to Emarketer, a market research company. OpenAI told investors it expects advertising revenue to reach $100 billion by 2030, while Emarketer projects the entire U.S. market for chatbot advertising will total just $5.41 billion by the end of the decade.

The keyboard launch is part of OpenAI's push into hardware products. Bloomberg noted the company is developing a separate portable, screenless AI device designed by former Apple engineers. These devices are now the subject of ongoing litigation after Apple sued OpenAI, alleging it stole trade secrets related to hardware development. OpenAI has denied the allegations.

The legal battle comes at a pivotal moment for the ChatGPT maker. OpenAI recently filed confidential paperwork for an IPO but faces stiff challenges, the Wall Street Journal writes. Rival Anthropic has already filed for its own IPO, and recently surpassed OpenAI in private-market valuation. At the same time, OpenAI's relationship with major backer Microsoft has become increasingly distant.