I tried out OpenAI's new AI keypad — which will be fun for some coders and slightly mystifying to everyone else
OpenAI launched its first piece of hardware, a keypad built to pair with ChatGPT. The device, called Micro, is a sturdy little device with a sleek design. It has six frosted 'agent' keys and six command keys, which can be customized to carry out specific tasks within Chat…
Intelligence analysis by Llama
OpenAI's Micro keypad is a device that pairs with ChatGPT, allowing users to customize keys to carry out specific tasks. The device has a sleek design and is sturdy, but may be confusing for non-coders. It has a learning curve and may not be worth the $230 price tag for some users.
Imagine you have a special keyboard that can talk to a computer program called ChatGPT. This program can do lots of things for you, like write emails or create art. The keyboard, called Micro, has special buttons that you can program to do specific things. It's like having a superpowerful assistant that you can control with a special device.
Analysis
A $60B Vote of Confidence
OpenAI's entrance into the hardware market has been met with both excitement and skepticism. The company's first piece of hardware, the Micro keypad, has been released to the public, and it's clear that it's a device designed with coders in mind. The keypad's layout involves six frosted 'agent' keys at the top, which can be customized to carry out specific tasks within ChatGPT or its agentic coding tool Codex. Below these keys are six command keys, which can be used to control those programs. The device is sturdy and has a sleek design, with a packaging that's reminiscent of Apple's products. The keypad's functionality is centered around its ability to pair with ChatGPT, allowing users to customize keys to carry out specific tasks. This can be done through a Bluetooth connection or a USB cable. One of the most convenient features of the Micro keypad is its voice dictation button. This allows users to simply tell the app what they want done and it will get busy working on their behalf. The keypad's customization options are extensive, with users able to adjust everything from the brightness of the light from the keys to the specific commands and projects they want tied to those keys. However, the device's learning curve may be a barrier for some users. The keypad's buttons are color-coded, with white meaning an agent is idle, blue meaning it's thinking, green meaning a task is complete, and red meaning there's been an error. Users will need to memorize this and also memorize which specific projects are coded to each key. The big question is whether the Micro keypad is functionally easier to use than just continuing to work on a laptop. In short, why would users spend a week learning how to program and operate this thing when they already know how to use their computer's mouse and keyboard? Ultimately, the user's experience with the Micro will depend heavily on how much they use ChatGPT. Since the author doesn't use AI much day to day, they're probably not the target audience for it. However, if users are ChatGPT power users, have $230 to spare, and like vintage-looking hardware with clicky buttons, the Micro keypad might not be the worst purchase they could make.
Key points
- OpenAI's Micro keypad is a device that pairs with ChatGPT, allowing users to customize keys to carry out specific tasks.
- The keypad has a sleek design and is sturdy, but may be confusing for non-coders.
- The device has a learning curve and may not be worth the $230 price tag for some users.
- The Micro keypad is OpenAI's first foray into hardware, and it may be a sign of the company's broader ambitions in the field.
If the Micro keypad is successful, it could be a sign of OpenAI's broader ambitions in the hardware market. This could lead to more innovative and user-friendly devices in the future.
The Micro keypad's high price tag and steep learning curve may be a barrier for some users. Additionally, the device's functionality may be limited to users who are already familiar with ChatGPT.
