A photo of Joe Gebbia, cofounder of Airbnb and the US chief design officer appointed by President Trump, has sparked intense speculation about a mysterious metallic device he was seen using in San Francisco. The image, which has been viewed over 500,000 times on social media, shows Gebbia wearing what appears to be a pair of metallic earbuds and a matching clamshell-shaped disc.
The device bears a striking resemblance to a fake OpenAI ad that circulated on social media in February, featuring actor Alexander Skarsgård interacting with a similar-looking AI device. OpenAI denied any involvement with the ad at the time, but the similarity has led many to wonder if the device Gebbia is using could be a prototype from the company.
Inside the Platform
According to WIRED's audio experts, the earbuds Gebbia is wearing are likely open earbuds, similar to those produced by Soundcore or Sony. However, the clamshell case on the table in front of him does not match any known devices from these companies. The possibility that the device is a prototype from another company, or even a soft launch teaser for OpenAI's upcoming hardware, has also been raised.
The timing of the photo's release has sparked speculation that it could be related to OpenAI's upcoming hardware launch, which is expected to take place in early 2027. However, OpenAI has denied any involvement with the previous fake ad, and it is unclear why Gebbia would be testing prototype hardware in a public setting.
The Infrastructure Question
The device's similarity to the Huawei FreeClip 2, a pair of open earbuds released earlier this year, has also been noted. However, the use of Huawei technology by a US government official would be surprising, given the company's effective ban from selling phones in the US due to security concerns. As the US chief design officer, Gebbia's role is focused on updating government websites for better usability, and it is unclear what kind of hardware he would be testing or why.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the device, one thing is clear: the anticipation for OpenAI's hardware launch is building. The company's partnership with famed Apple designer Jony Ive, announced last May, has sparked intense interest in what kind of devices they will produce. As the tech world waits with bated breath for more information, the mysterious metallic device spotted with Joe Gebbia remains a topic of intense speculation and debate.
