OpenAI to launch its first hardware product in two weeks; it’s not a phone

During the AI Engineer World Fair in San Francisco, OpenAI unveiled the new device: the Codex Micro. The Codex Micro is a Codex-branded input device manufactured in collaboration with the accessory company Work Louder.
Work Louder is known for its mechanical keyboards and macro pads featuring configurable keys, dials, and switches.

What is the Codex Micro?

The Codex Micro is not part of the AI hardware projects OpenAI is developing alongside Jony Ive. Instead, as reported by a famous publication. OpenAI spokesperson Dominik Kundel described the Codex Micro at the AI Engineer World Fair as a keypad "designed to enhance users' experience with Codex."

The Codex Micro is a micro pad that resembles Work Louder's Creator Micro 2. That device includes 13 mechanical switches, a joystick, and a touch sensor, allowing users to assign custom shortcuts and actions when working with different applications.
While it is unclear exactly how the Codex Micro differs from the standard model, one can expect specific shortcuts for the Codex coding agent that could streamline workflows. In other words, it may be possible to trigger Codex functions using a physical controller, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly copy, paste, and switch interfaces.

However, OpenAI has not yet revealed all the features of the Codex Micro.
OpenAI is not the first company to collaborate with Work Louder. Previously, Figma created its own version of the Creator Micro in partnership with Work Louder, which came equipped with pre-configured shortcuts.

When will the Codex Micro launch?

OpenAI has shared previews of the Codex Micro on X, with a launch scheduled for July 15, 2026. It remains unclear whether the Codex Micro will be released globally or if its availability will be limited to select markets.

As for pricing, little is known about the Codex Micro. However, to put it in perspective, Work Louder’s Creator Micro 2 is priced at $199 (approximately 18,800 rupees) in the United States.

Although OpenAI remains tight-lipped about when it plans to unveil its other hardware projects, it is worth noting that Microsoft recently introduced Project Solara, a new platform for AI-powered devices.