After months of speculation, OpenAI has officially entered the hardware segment with the launch of its first hardware product—a programmable keypad called Codex Micro, designed specifically for its AI coding platform, Codex. The device has been developed in collaboration with accessories manufacturer Work Louder.
The launch comes amid an ongoing legal dispute in which Apple has sued OpenAI, alleging misuse of trade secrets and confidential information related to its hardware business. OpenAI has denied the allegations, stating that there is no evidence supporting the claims made in the lawsuit.
What is Codex Micro?
As its name suggests, the Codex Micro is built for users of OpenAI's Codex platform. OpenAI describes it as a "command centre for agentic work," enabling users to manage AI agents through dedicated physical controls rather than relying solely on a desktop or smartphone interface.
The device was first showcased during the AI Engineer World Fair held in San Francisco last month.
Features
The Codex Micro features 13 mechanical keys, a touch-sensitive surface, a rotary encoder and a planar joystick. It also includes RGB lighting, a popular feature among keyboard enthusiasts.
The square-shaped keypad includes illuminated Agent Keys that display the status of AI tasks, Command Keys for frequently used Codex functions, a joystick for launching workflows and a rotary dial that allows users to adjust an AI agent's reasoning level, determining how much time and computing power it allocates to a task.
The keypad is available in two variants—Clicky and Silent.
Following the launch, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commented on X, saying, "Amazing to me that some people want the silent version."
According to OpenAI, users can remap every key directly within Codex and customise the layout using the 32 included icon keycaps. Additional customisation is available through the Work Louder Input software, which allows users to assign shortcuts to individual keys, the rotary dial and joystick movements across six programmable layers.
In a product demonstration, Work Louder co-founder Mike Di Genova explained that the keypad's six frosted Agent Keys provide a live view of Codex threads. Different colours indicate whether a task is idle, processing, completed, awaiting user input or has encountered an error.
The Codex Micro is reportedly based on Work Louder's existing Creator Micro 2 keypad, with modifications tailored for OpenAI's Codex platform.
Connectivity and compatibility
The device supports both Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity and is compatible with macOS and Windows systems.
Each package includes the Codex Micro keypad, a USB-C to USB-C cable and a Codex-themed icon keyset.
Price and availability
The Codex Micro is priced at $230 (approximately ₹22,000) and will be offered as a limited-edition product. OpenAI has not disclosed the total number of units that will be available.
Pre-orders for the keypad are currently open.
Separate from OpenAI's broader hardware ambitions
The Codex Micro is independent of OpenAI's larger hardware initiative being led by former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive.
According to reports, OpenAI is also developing a portable, screenless smart device with deep ChatGPT integration and mechanical moving parts. However, that product remains under development, and its design and features could change before launch.
