OpenAI has stepped into hardware with Micro, a compact keypad created with specialty keyboard maker Work Louder and designed to work alongside ChatGPT. Built for users who want faster access to AI tools, the device blends a retro look with a highly customizable workflow.
The keypad features six frosted agent keys on top and six command keys below. Users can assign these buttons to specific actions in ChatGPT or in Codex, OpenAI's coding tool. Micro connects to a computer through Bluetooth or USB, and it also includes a voice dictation button that lets users speak a request before sending it with a tap.
Inside ChatGPT, a dedicated Micro tab allows further personalization, from key brightness to task assignments for different projects. The device uses color signals to show status: white for idle, blue for processing, green for completed, and red for error.
Early reactions suggest Micro is most appealing to people who already spend a lot of time inside ChatGPT and enjoy tactile, desk-friendly tools. For those users, the keypad can make switching between tasks feel smoother and more playful. At $230, it is positioned as a niche accessory rather than a mass-market device.
As AI tools move closer to everyday workflows, products like Micro point toward a future where software and hardware work together more naturally, shaping a more hands-on era of intelligent computing.
