Key Takeaways
- OpenAI has launched a $70 ChatGPT Basketball as part of its 'Pause. Play. Prompt.' campaign.
- The basketball is made from 100 percent rubber and measures 29.5 inches in diameter.
- Codex Micro, a $230 mini keyboard for managing AI agents, was the main hardware launch.
OpenAI has expanded its product range beyond software tools with the launch of a physical item: a ChatGPT Basketball priced at $70. This basketball is part of OpenAI's 'Pause. Play. Prompt.' campaign and serves as a tangible reminder that creativity can extend beyond digital screens.
The ball, which measures 29.5 inches in diameter, is made entirely from rubber, making it more suitable for outdoor play compared to the premium leather balls used on professional courts. Despite its unusual nature, this launch aligns with OpenAI's growing Supply Co. store, where the company now sells official merchandise, apparel, accessories, and limited-edition collectibles.
The bigger product launch was Codex Micro, a $230 mini keyboard designed for users managing AI agents. OpenAI calls it a 'command center for agentic work,' featuring light-up Agent Keys that indicate the status of AI agents, command keys for frequent actions, a joystick for launching workflows, and a dial for adjusting reasoning levels.
Codex Micro supports Bluetooth and USB-C connections, works with both Mac and Windows operating systems, and includes mechanical switches, RGB lighting, a rotary encoder, and a touch sensor. This device is built to provide physical controls for common AI coding actions, enhancing the user experience in managing AI agents.
OpenAI's Supply Co. store now offers various branded items beyond the basketball and Codex Micro. These include a Good Research Tee for $40, a Codex Build Hoodie for $100, a ChatGPT Longsleeve for $50, and a Research Half Zip for $175. The company describes these products as physical expressions of its research culture.
The launch of the ChatGPT Basketball is seen more as a branding experiment or collector item tied to OpenAI's new merchandise push. It stands out given that OpenAI is entering the physical product market with items like AI coding keyboards while also selling a ball that encourages creativity away from screens. For a company known for chatbots, coding agents, and generative AI, this launch represents an unexpected first step onto the court.
While the basketball may not be a major hardware product like Codex Micro, it fits into OpenAI's broader strategy of expanding its brand beyond digital tools to include physical items that resonate with its mission and values.
