OpenAI releases a $230 light-up keyboard designed for Codex

In short: OpenAI has started selling a $230 light-up keyboard meant to work with Codex, its AI tool for writing and running code.

What happened

OpenAI launched a new hardware product called the Codex Micro. It is a keyboard that lights up and is designed to be used with Codex, OpenAI’s coding assistant.

The keyboard was co-designed with a specialty keyboard company called Work Louder. OpenAI says the keyboard connects through the ChatGPT desktop app, where people can control and customize what the keys do.

The Codex Micro has “Agent Keys” that show the status of AI “agents” (think of them like helper bots that can take on small jobs, such as writing and running code). It also includes customizable shortcut keys, a small joystick for launching common tasks, and a dial that changes how much “reasoning” the agent uses. In simple terms, the dial can push an agent to think longer and use more computing power, or to respond faster.

OpenAI told TechCrunch that this is a limited-run collaboration. That suggests it is not meant to be a mass-market product.

The launch comes while OpenAI is in a legal fight with Apple. Apple sued OpenAI last week, claiming OpenAI took confidential hardware information. OpenAI has denied wrongdoing.

Why it matters

This keyboard is a small product, but it is another sign that OpenAI is moving beyond software. If OpenAI keeps making devices that tie closely into ChatGPT and Codex, some work could shift from regular apps to dedicated controls, like having a physical remote for your AI tools.

Source: TechCrunch AI