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OpenAI launched its first piece of hardware last week \u2014 a fancy little keypad built to pair with ChatGPT. Micro, which was developed in collaboration with specialty keyboard designer Work Louder, is essentially an artisanal workplace novelty that many tech enthusiasts will love and that may leave everyone else a little puzzled.<\/p>\n
OpenAI\u2019s entrance into the hardware market hasn\u2019t arrived without drama. Several weeks ago, Apple sued the AI lab<\/a> and accused it of trade theft \u2014 kicking off what\u2019s certain to be a long-simmering legal battle. Meanwhile, news of another smart home product<\/a> in development at OpenAI has also raised eyebrows, as the supposed device \u2014 which is being built to pair with ChatGPT \u2014 was reportedly developed by former Apple engineers.<\/p>\n Until the legal battle works itself out and OpenAI\u2019s broader hardware ambitions materialize, the most the startup has to offer is Micro \u2014 a funky little keypad clearly engineered to delight the tech industry\u2019s code monkeys.<\/p>\n OpenAI sent TechCrunch a Micro test unit. The first big thing you notice when initially handling the keypad is that it\u2019s a sturdy little device \u2014 enough so that if the AI accessory thing doesn\u2019t end up working out, it could easily double as a paperweight. The other thing you might notice (and I am not the only one to point this out)<\/a>, is that the packaging \u2014 an immaculate white box with a sleek, clean aesthetic \u2014 is pretty Apple-coded. Make of that what you will.<\/p>\n The keypad\u2019s layout involves six frosted \u201cagent\u201d keys at the top of the pad, which can be customized to carry out specific tasks within ChatGPT or its agentic coding tool Codex. Below them are six command keys, which can be used to control those programs. You can pair your Micro with your computer either through a Bluetooth connection or a USB cable.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most convenient thing Micro offers is a button for voice dictation \u2014 meaning you simply tell the app what you want done and it will get busy working on your behalf. Just hold down the dictation button and start talking. When you\u2019re done, tap the \u201csend\u201d button next to it to submit your request.<\/p>\n You can customize your Micro keypad within ChatGPT itself, where a Micro tab allows you to adjust everything from the brightness of the light from the keys to the specific commands and projects you want tied to those keys. <\/p>\n Hard-core coders \u2014 the device\u2019s actual target audience \u2014 haven\u2019t exactly embraced it. Reviews by Redditors have largely negative, with one Reddit user calling it \u201ca prank<\/a> and not a real product,\u201d and others saying serious coders won\u2019t touch it. A review by the smaller independent outlet Aftermath was even harsher<\/a>, calling the $230 price tag hard to justify next to cheaper DIY and off-the-shelf alternatives. (The title of that review: \u201cOpenAI\u2019s expensive macropad feels engineered to piss me off specifically.\u201d)<\/p>\n It\u2019s definitely the case that new users may need some time to figure out how Micro works and what to do with it.<\/p>\n Once I figured out how to program the keypad to my liking, I found it was actually pretty fun. You can assign various ChatGPT sessions to specific keys, which then allows you to easily toggle back and forth between all of your various projects. When you combine that with the dictation button, it makes the whole experience considerably more efficient and enjoyable.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s still a learning curve. Micro\u2019s buttons are color-coded. White means an agent is idle, blue means its thinking, green means a task is complete, and red means there\u2019s been an error. You\u2019ll need to memorize that, along with memorizing which specific projects are coded to each key.<\/p>\n The big question is whether the Micro keypad is functionally easier to use than just continuing to work on your laptop. In short: Why would I spend a week learning how to program and operate this thing when I already know how to use my computer\u2019s mouse and keyboard?<\/p>\n Ultimately, your experience with the Micro will depend heavily on how much you use ChatGPT. Since I don\u2019t use AI much day to day, I\u2019m probably not the target audience for it.<\/p>\n That said, if you\u2019re a ChatGPT power user, have $230 to spare, and like vintage-looking hardware with clicky buttons, Micro probably isn\u2019t the worst purchase you could make \u2014 it might even brighten your day a little.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n