OpenAI’s first hardware device debuted at $230. Now, it’s on eBay for $1,850

OpenAI’s foray into hardware has transfixed techies for more than a year, with speculation about the AI company’s forthcoming mystery gadget ranging from a smart speaker to a wearable device.

It turns out, OpenAI’s first hardware device is a bit more prosaic: a keyboard.

On July 15, OpenAI debuted the Codex Micro, a $230 square keyboard with a 12-key pad, a joystick, and neon lights. Targeted specifically at computer coders who use OpenAI’s Codex tool, the Micro keyboard is a one-off project that OpenAI developed with boutique keyboard firm Work Louder. It’s completely separate from the consumer gadget—the so-called AI companion—that’s expected to be released sometime next year.

That hasn’t crimped demand for the Codex Micro keyboard however.

It sold out the day it went on sale in about 12 hours, and some of the lucky few who snagged one are now re-selling them on eBay. One is listed now for $1,850, though the seller is unlikely to make the sale. Looking at past sales on eBay, the biggest bounty was $1,250, listed on July 16, one day after release.

Prices have steadily declined since, selling for around $800-$1,000 in the next week after release. Today, they’re going for around $450, which is still well above the list price. Most sellers are in the U.S., though others hail from France, the Netherlands, and Ireland.

The device aims to make it easier for developers to track their progress in Codex, OpenAI’s flagship coding assistant that........

© Fortune