Jony Ive and Sam Altman Collaborate on Groundbreaking AI Device

iPhone Designer Jony Ive and OpenAI's Sam Altman Working on Top-Secret AI Device, Report Says

Sam Altman, the CEO of the company behind ChatGPT and Dall-E, is reportedly working on a top-secret artificial intelligence computing project with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Ive, who designed the iPhone and iPad, among other Apple products, is teaming up with Altman, CEO of OpenAI, to create a new AI-powered computing device that aims to be "less socially disruptive than the iPhone," according to The New York Times. Few details are known about the AI device, but Ive and Altman have already raised funding for the project from investors including Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, the report said. Funding reportedly could be up to $1 billion by the end of the year. Ive's design firm LoveFrom, which he co-founded after leaving Apple five years ago, is behind the development of the AI-powered device. The company -- which was co-founded by Mark Newson, a well-known luxury designer who worked on the Apple Watch -- employs other former Apple executives, including Tang Tan, who oversaw iPhone development. LoveFrom works with clients such as Airbnb and Ferrari. Newson told the Times that "what the product would be and when it would be released were still being determined." The partnership started over a number of dinners when Ive and Altman discussed the power of generative AI and its potential for computing devices, the report said. The concept of an AI-powered device follows the introduction this year of a handful of devices that have yet to take off. The $700 Humane AI pin -- which turns surface areas, including your hand, into a mobile screen -- was met with mixed reviews, and people are reportedly returning the product in high numbers. The $199 Rabbit R1 handheld device, which uses AI to complete tasks, also fell short of expectations. Meanwhile, companies including Google and Samsung have been adding generative AI capabilities to their phone lineups. Just last week, Apple's new iPhone 16 devices went on sale, with the company's Apple Intelligence features set to begin arriving on them in the coming weeks and months. But at a time when we're so heavily distracted by mobile devices, one that offers a more mindful, less distracting experience could be appealing for consumers. Neither LoveFrom nor OpenAI immediately responded to a request for comment.

An 'iPhone of AI' Makes No Sense. What Is Jony Ive Really Building?

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED Gently does it. In the past week or so, we've had a logo upgrade, a big New York Times profile, and a Moncler outerwear collaboration from LoveFrom, Jony Ive and Marc Newson's San Francisco-headquartered design studio. The real news, though, is confirmation that LoveFrom is working with OpenAI's founder Sam Altman to build a secretive as-yet-unnamed AI device with investors including Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective, and Ive himself. The former Apple chief design officer is sometimes gently mocked for his obsession with seemingly small details, but when it comes to a potential mainstream human-AI interface, the man who has spent the past five years preoccupied with buttons -- going so far as to create a five-volume history of garment fasteners -- could be, in a somewhat inevitable way, the exact kind of person required to walk this particular tightrope of ethics and ambition. Details so far are scarce but revealing, at least where intentions are concerned. LoveFrom is designing "a product that uses AI to create a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone." What form the device will take and when it will be released are still to be determined. The language points to a consumer mass-market device to, in theory, access ChatGPT and Dall-E, and rival the likes of just-announced Apple Intelligence features, which include typing requests, prompts to Siri, and pointing the camera for visual queries on the latest-gen iPhone 16. Not everyone thinks this is an appealing prospect. "To me, AI on smartphones, especially in social media, are just a pathetic continuation of the same business model that has been exploitative to consumers for decades," says industrial designer and Fuseproject founder Yves Béhar. "I find the efforts in using AI for our daily communications and social media just more of the same, as it only serves the attention economy, and isn't contributing to society." A key mystery of the LoveFrom and OpenAI news (LoveFrom declined to comment for this story) is whether this future device is indeed one thing -- to perhaps succeed in focus and execution where the Humane Ai Pin (4/10 from WIRED) and Rabbit R1 (3/10 from WIRED) accessories have failed -- or a system of connected components. And so, will the product need the processing power to run some or all functions on device, or will it rely on the cloud? Here, the industrial and UI design proposals could shape the security and privacy decisions. Another design dilemma on Ive's desk will be whether the main thing will have a display at all, and what that could look like. Reporting in the Financial Times last September, citing anonymous sources familiar with the discussions, said that the OpenAI collaboration presented an opportunity to create a way of interacting with computers that is "less reliant on screens," and that there were many different ideas on the table. During NYT reporter Tripp Mickle's visit to the LoveFrom HQ, he spotted papers and cardboard boxes featuring the "earliest ideas" for the device(s) being wheeled from one office to another.

Jony Ive And OpenAI's $1 Billion Bet: A New AI Device In The Works With Just 10 Employees

Jony Ive, the iconic former Apple designer known for shaping the look of the iPhone and countless other products, is entering a new venture. And it's with OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman. This partnership was confirmed in a recent New York Times profile that sheds light on what Ive has been up to since leaving Apple. Don't Miss: One trailblazing female with an expertise in renewable energy built a company that's bringing the EV revolution to disadvantaged communities -- here's how you can invest at just $500 If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it? So, what's brewing between these two tech visionaries? Details are still under wraps, but they're cooking up something big in AI. The project is still in its early stages and has a modest team of about 10 people. But don't let the small team size fool you - this crew includes some heavy hitters like Tang Tan and Evans Hankey. These guys are key players who worked with Ive on the iPhone. LoveFrom, Ive's design firm, is at the helm. They're shaping the concept and design of this mysterious new device. Trending: Teens may never need wisdom teeth removed thanks to this MedTech Company - Be an early investor for just $300 for 100 shares! Ive and Altman reportedly connected through Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb. The Emerson Collective backs their collaboration, Laurene Powell Jobs' venture. The New York Times suggests they could raise up to $1 billion in funding by the end of the year. However, contrary to previous rumors, SoftBank's Masayoshi Son is not mentioned as involved, despite last year's buzz that he might invest $1 billion into the project. The team is currently working out of a sleek 32,000-square-foot office in San Francisco, part of a $90 million real estate block that Ive acquired. The location hints at the scale of their ambitions, but as for what the actual device will be, well, that's still anyone's guess. Trending: Groundbreaking trading app with a 'Buy-Now-Pay-Later' feature for stocks tackles the $644 billion margin lending market - here's how to get equity in it with just $500 According to the Times, Ive and Altman have discussed how generative AI could pave the way for a revolutionary new computing device, one that goes beyond what traditional software can do by handling more complex tasks. There were whispers last year that the project might draw inspiration from touch screen technology and the original iPhone, but nothing is set in stone. Even LoveFrom's co-founder, Marc Newson, admitted that many details are still in the air. The design, functionality and even the release timeline of the product are all still being worked out. It sounds like we're in for a bit of a wait before this project sees the light of day. But knowing Ive's track record, it's sure to be worth keeping an eye on. Read Next: Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, and this platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000 offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today! Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here's how you can earn passive income with just $100. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs