WadoLabs

Jony Ive's First OpenAI Device Will Be Smart Speaker With Camera, 2027 Launch Planned

OpenAI is working on several AI hardware devices in partnership with former Apple designer Jony Ive, and the first product that comes out could be a smart speaker. The company is developing a smart speaker, a smart lamp, and considering AI glasses, according to The Information, with the speaker set to come out in early 2027. OpenAI's smart speaker has an integrated camera and it is designed to learn information about who is using it and what's around them.

MacRumors

Juli Clover, MacRumors:

The speaker would observe users and suggest actions to help them achieve goals, such as suggesting an early bedtime ahead of a morning meeting.

OpenAI has 200+ people on hardware and engineers are already complaining about LoveFrom's pace. But the real story is Apple — behind on AI, they're infiltrating the home with a suite of Siri-powered products this year, and OpenAI is trying to beat them to it.

Apple’s March 4 launch event: New products and what to expect - 9to5Mac

Apple is holding a special event March 4 for press around the world, and rumors indicate there are lots of new products that could launch.

9to5Mac

Ryan Christoffel, 9to5Mac:

Apple intends to roll out new products daily in the lead-up to March 4. That means we could get hardware launches via press release on Monday March 2, Tuesday March 3, and Wednesday March 4.

Nine products in three days with no keynote? Apple is speed-running the launch calendar. The real tell is what's missing — HomePod Touch and the new Apple TV are held back by Siri. That means Apple Intelligence still isn't ready for the living room. The Mac and iPhone lineup is the distraction. The smart home gap is the story.

Welcome to WadoLabs! I'm Edward Chan — a software engineer based in Los Angeles. This is the first post on the blog, so I figured I'd introduce myself.

A Bit About Me

I've been building software professionally for over two decades. I've spent most of my career at the intersection of engineering and product — leading teams, designing systems, and shipping things people actually use. Currently, I work at Genius Sports.

I've always been the type to have a side project going. Whether it's a macOS utility, a web app, or something I just wanted to exist — I like making things. WadoLabs is the home for all of that.

When I'm not writing code, you might find me coaching youth basketball. I'm the head coach of the Super Saber Brothers — it's a blast and keeps me honest about communication and teamwork in ways that software never could.

Why This Site

I wanted a place to share what I'm working on outside of my day job — somewhere to document projects, write about technical decisions, and put things out into the world. No algorithms, no feeds, just a simple site with things I've built and things I've learned.

The first project up is KeyLime, a lightweight keyboard remapping app for macOS. It lets you remap keys, create layers, and use tap-hold gestures — all from the menu bar. If you've ever wished Caps Lock did something useful, give it a try.

What to Expect

I'll be writing about:

• Side projects — walkthroughs, technical decisions, and lessons learned
• Engineering practices — tools, workflows, and approaches I find useful
• Technology deep dives — exploring interesting problems and how to solve them
• Bite-size clips and takes — quick links and commentary on topics I find interesting

Stay Tuned

More posts coming soon. In the meantime, check out the projects page to see what I've been building.