OpenAI releases first hardware: a light-up keyboard for AI agents

AI firm OpenAI has launched its first proprietary hardware device, the Codex Micro. Priced at $230, the specialized mini-keyboard is designed to allow users to monitor and swiftly interact with multiple Codex AI agents.

The device is a limited-run collaboration with Work Louder, a company known for its similar Creator Micro line of customizable keyboards aimed at creative professionals. The Codex Micro's key feature over standard versions is six frosted keys that provide color-coded, live feedback on up to six Codex threads, even when backgrounded.

These keys are intended to indicate agent status, cycling through white for idle, blue for thinking, and green for completed tasks. Amber alerts signal a need for human input, while red signifies an error, helping users quickly identify urgent threads.

A quick press of an illuminated key brings the relevant Codex window to the forefront on-screen, facilitating rapid response and task management. This release comes amid ongoing speculation about OpenAI's potential development of other hardware, such as a smart speaker.