OpenAI Considers Acquiring Jony Ive and Sam Altman's AI Hardware Startup

OpenAI reportedly mulls buying Jony Ive and Sam Altman's AI hardware startup | TechCrunch

OpenAI is said to have discussed acquiring the AI hardware startup that former Apple design lead Jony Ive is building with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. According to The Information, OpenAI could pay around $500 million for the fledgling company, called io Products. Ive, who left Apple in 2019 to start his own design firm called LoveFrom, confirmed that he was working with Altman on the AI hardware startup last year in an interview with The New York Times. io Products has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Laurene Powell Jobs's Emerson Collective and others, according to The Information. The Information's report notes that OpenAI may end up partnering with instead of acquiring io Products, which currently has a small team that includes former Apple designers Tang Tan and Evans Hankey. io Products has reportedly been working on different concepts of AI-enabled devices, including smart home gadgets. Last year, The New York Times said that the startup's goal was to build products that are "less socially disruptive than the iPhone."

ChatGPT Screenless Phone Incoming? OpenAI Reportedly Eyeing Jony Ive's AI Startup

Samantha Kelly is a freelance writer with a focus on consumer technology, AI, social media, Big Tech, emerging trends and how they impact our everyday lives. Her work has been featured on CNN, NBC, NPR, the BBC, Mashable and more. OpenAI is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of an AI startup co-founded by Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The deal could exceed $500 million, according to The Information. The publication said the venture, called io Products, is developing a range of AI-powered technologies, including a screenless phone concept and smart home devices. However, the company has denied that a phone is currently in development. The closely guarded AI hardware initiative was first reported by The New York Times in September. Ive - renowned for designing the iPhone, iPad and other iconic Apple products - announced he was partnering with Altman to create a new AI-driven computing device aimed at being "less socially disruptive than the iPhone." Although few specifics have emerged about the device, Ive and Altman have reportedly secured early-stage backing from investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Funding was expected to reach $1 billion by the end of last year, the report said. In addition to acquisition talks, ChatGPT maker OpenAI is said to be exploring strategic partnerships with the venture. If a deal materializes, OpenAI would gain access to both the underlying technology and the core engineering team. OpenAI didn't respond to a request for comment. The report arrives as the AI voice assistant landscape grows, with OpenAI, Google, Meta and others racing to advance their chatbot offerings. A deal could also tighten OpenAI's integration with a hardware player. Ive's design firm, LoveFrom - founded after his departure from Apple five years ago - is spearheading the device's development. The company, co-founded by renowned luxury designer Marc Newson (a key contributor to the Apple Watch), includes former Apple executives such as Tang Tan, who led iPhone hardware design. LoveFrom's client list includes brands like Airbnb and Ferrari.

A ChatGPT Screenless Phone Could Be Coming, as OpenAI Reportedly Eyes Jony Ive's AI Startup

Samantha Kelly is a freelance writer with a focus on consumer technology, AI, social media, Big Tech, emerging trends and how they impact our everyday lives. Her work has been featured on CNN, NBC, NPR, the BBC, Mashable and more. ChatGPT maker OpenAI is reportedly looking into a potential acquisition of an artificial intelligence startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The deal could exceed $500 million, according to The Information. The venture, called io Products, is developing a range of AI-powered technologies including a screenless phone concept and smart home devices, the publication said. io Products has denied that a phone is in development, however, and OpenAI didn't respond to a request for comment. The closely guarded AI hardware initiative was first reported by The New York Times in September. Ive -- who is renowned for designing the iPhone, iPad and other iconic Apple products -- said he was partnering with Altman to create a new AI-driven computing device aimed at being "less socially disruptive than the iPhone." Although few specifics have emerged about the device, Ive and Altman have reportedly secured early-stage backing from investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Funding was expected to reach $1 billion by the end of last year, according to The New York Times. In addition to acquisition talks, OpenAI is said to be exploring strategic partnerships with the venture. If a deal materializes, OpenAI would gain access to both the underlying technology and the core engineering team. The report arrives as the AI voice assistant landscape grows, with OpenAI, Google, Meta and others racing to advance their AI chatbot offerings. A deal could also tighten OpenAI's integration with a hardware player. Ive's design firm, LoveFrom -- founded after his departure from Apple five years ago -- is spearheading the device's development. The company, co-founded by renowned luxury designer Marc Newson, a key contributor to the Apple Watch, includes former Apple executives such as Tang Tan, who led iPhone hardware design. LoveFrom's client list includes brands like Airbnb and Ferrari. Jitesh Ubrani, a manager at market research firm IDC, told CNET a move into hardware would enable OpenAI to continue expanding across various platforms and make a stronger push into more environments. "By partnering with a hardware startup, OpenAI can help maintain its lead across these other device types and usage scenarios," Ubrani said. "Until the launch of AI, smart home hardware innovation [started] to plateau and by combining forces, the two companies could also benefit from growth in this space by injecting AI into the home."

Jony Ive's new AI product is 'not a phone,' but might work like one - 9to5Mac

Longtime Apple design head Jony Ive has largely avoided creating new tech devices since starting his own firm, LoveFrom. But early details on Ive's new "personalized AI device" have revealed the designer could be treading familiar territory in his partnership with OpenAI's Sam Altman. Stephanie Palazzolo and Jessica E. Lessin write at The Information: OpenAI in recent weeks discussed acquiring a startup its CEO Sam Altman has been working on with ex-Apple designer Jony Ive's studio to develop an artificial intelligence-powered personal device, according to two people with direct knowledge of the deal talks. [...] Designs for the AI device are still early and haven't been finalized, the people said. Potential designs include a "phone" without a screen and AI-enabled household devices, they said. Others close to the project are adamant that it is "not a phone." That second paragraph shows how potentially innovative Ive's new project is, as The Information's sources seem to have trouble even making a comparison to existing products. The idea of it being a phone "without a screen" is on one hand absurd, but it also helps indicate the direction of the product. It may not technically be a phone, as certain sources are adamant about, but it may very well work a lot like one. Unlike failed AI hardware such as the Humane Ai Pin, it seems Ive's new product could be much more than just a niche companion to the smartphone. It's possible its ambitions are to replace it altogether. Of course, work is still early, and details are scarce. But the early hints point to a device that's very exciting to me personally, truly built from the ground up for the AI age. It's no surprise, then, that OpenAI is considering acquiring io products, the Sam Altman company that's working on the product with Ive. It's already powered by OpenAI's tech, so bringing io into OpenAI's fold makes a lot of sense. What do you make of these early details on Jony Ive's new AI product? Let us know in the comments.

Jony Ive's Latest Project Could Be an AI 'Phone' Without a Screen

OpenAI is considering acquiring the AI hardware startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, according to a new report from The Information. The deal could be worth at least $500 million. The venture, known as "io Products," is developing AI-powered devices that could include a "phone" without a screen and other AI-enabled household products, according to people will direct knowledge of the talks. That's despite people close to the project apparently insisting it is "not a phone." Ive and Altman began their collaboration more than a year ago, focusing on creating voice-enabled AI assistants. The project is still in the early design stages, with no finalized product concepts yet. The venture is being funded by Ive and Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective. The startup currently employs a small team that includes former Apple designers Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, who previously worked with Ive on the iPhone. Instead of a full acquisition, OpenAI and the hardware startup are also discussing partnership options. If acquired, OpenAI would gain not only the technology but also the engineering team that has been developing the device, according to the report's sources. The deal structure reportedly involves io Products employing engineers to build the device while OpenAI provides AI capabilities and Ive's LoveFrom studio contributes design expertise. An AI hardware venture would put OpenAI in more direct competition with Apple, despite their existing partnership announced last June where Apple's Siri assistant uses ChatGPT for certain queries. The AI voice assistant market is becoming increasingly competitive, with OpenAI, Meta, Google, Anthropic, and xAI all developing voice capabilities for their text chatbots. OpenAI launched a voice mode for ChatGPT last year, allowing customers to engage in spoken conversations with the chatbot. Ive left Apple in 2019, where he served as chief design officer before founding his design firm LoveFrom. He continued to work with Apple as a consultant through LoveFrom until 2022, when the partnership officially concluded.

OpenAI mulls taking over Jony Ive's AI startup for $500 million

Sam Altman's OpenAI has discussed acquiring Altman and Jony Ive's startup firm that is designing at least one household AI device. Jony Ive left Apple in 2019 to found his own design company, LoveFrom, and has since hired many ex-Apple staff, including his own replacement, Evans Hankey. Ive also hired ex-Apple design lead Tang Tan specifically to work on the AI startup collaboration with Sam Altman. Now according to The Information, this startup is called "io Projects," and OpenAI has discussed buying it outright for at least $500 million. If this happens, OpenAI would acquire the AI designs plus the engineers who are working on it. It's not clear, though, whether an OpenAI acquisition would also see it taking on either Tang Tan or Evans Hankley. Previously, it was reported in 2024 that Ive had been looking for investors to provide funding of $1 billion for the unknown device, or devices. Subsequently, Laurene Powell Jobs is said to have invested an unknown sum through her Emerson Collective, as have other companies. In 2023, it was reported that Ive and Sam Altman had been meeting to discuss what was described as the iPhone of AI. It meant the AI device that would be as transformative and universally used as the iPhone, but it's been misinterpreted as meaning Ive is working on an AI phone. That perception continues with this new report, which cites some unspecified sources as specifically saying that Ive's device is a phone without a screen. However, it also cites other sources as being adamant that it is not a phone. What appears to be sure is that the device is intended to be used as a voice assistant. It's being designed by Ive and his new startup, io Products, with help from LoveFrom, and is seemingly getting AI from Altman's OpenAI. Altman has also been described as being deeply involved, but was not a founder. It isn't known whether he has personally invested in the firm. As well as an outright acquisition, OpenAI is said to be considering a partnership with the startup. If Ive's new AI device is a device with a voice assistant, it would be entering a market that has changed significantly since his first discussions with Altman in 2023. Since then, Apple has famously promised a radically improved version of Siri, but Amazon has also announced an AI-powered new version of Alexa.

OpenAI could reportedly acquire Jony Ive's AI device startup for $500M+ - SiliconANGLE

OpenAI could reportedly acquire Jony Ive's AI device startup for $500M+ OpenAI is reportedly considering buying a consumer electronics startup led by Jony Ive, Apple Inc.'s former Chief Design Officer. The Information late Sunday cited sources as saying that the deal could be worth more than $500 million. However, the insiders cautioned that OpenAI may eventually opt for a partnership instead of an acquisition. Ive's company, which is called io Products, is believed to be developing a phone-like device with artificial intelligence features and no screen. Best known for designing the iPhone, Ive joined Apple in 1992 and went on to spend nearly three decades at the company. He also designed the iPod, Mac and lesser-known Apple products such as the Newton PDA. One of Ivy's last projects at the company saw him help plan its $5 billion headquarters in Cupertino, California. Ive left Apple in 2019 to launch a design studio called LoveFrom. It's unclear whether the studio is affiliated with io Products, the Ive-led company that OpenAI is reportedly considering buying. Both firms are rumored to be developing AI-powered devices. According to some of The Information's sources, io Products may develop a "phone-like product without a screen." Other insiders, however, are reportedly "adamant that it is not a phone." The product's design is said to be in an early stage of development. It's believed io Products may also seek to create AI-powered smart home appliances. There's no word on what tasks those devices would perform or the manner in which they might use AI. LoveFrom, the design studio that Ive launched after leaving Apple in 2019, reportedly also weighed building an AI-equipped consumer device at one point. In 2023, rumors emerged that Ive had held talks with OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman about the gadget. In 2024, sources told The Information that the former Apple executive may seek to raise $1 billion from SoftBank Group Corp. for the project. Screenless AI devices have been a focus for Altman since at least 2023. That year, he backed a funding round for Humane Inc., a startup with an AI-powered brooch. The device lacked a display and instead used a miniature projector to show content on the user's palm. HP Inc. acquired some of Humane's assets for $116 million earlier this year after its brooch failed to draw the expected interest. Entering the consumer electronics market by acquiring io Products would potentially enable OpenAI to create a new revenue stream. Currently, the company generates practically all its revenue from ChatGPT and its application programming interfaces for developers. According to CNBC, OpenAI expects to end the year with $12.7 billion in sales. Consumer gadgets power their AI features using models that run either in the cloud or on-device. The latter approach is often more practical: on-device algorithms work even if there's no reliable internet connection. Should OpenAI enter the consumer electronics market with io Products' help, it may seek to develop lightweight AI models capable of running locally on consumer devices.

OpenAI Could Buy Jony Ive and Sam Altman's AI Devices Startup

The design of the AI device is reportedly being made by LoveFrom OpenAI is reportedly discussing the possibility of buying CEO Sam Altman and Jony Ive's artificial intelligence (AI) startup. The unnamed startup was reportedly founded last year and is building AI-powered devices. One of the designs was rumoured to be inspired by the original iPhone, although its functionality could be different. At the moment, it is unclear whether the company has a working prototype for any of the rumoured designs. As per the report, the San Francisco-based AI firm is considering a full acquisition as well as a partnership deal with the startup. According to The Information, OpenAI is considering purchasing Ive and Altman's secret AI startup. Ive formerly worked at Apple as the company's Chief Design Officer and is credited for the design language of the original iPhone, which was launched in 2007. Notably, the design language of the planned AI devices is said to be handled by Ive's company, LoveFrom. Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the report claimed that OpenAI executives believe a full acquisition of the startup could cost the AI firm more than $500 million (roughly Rs. 4,288 crore). Additionally, OpenAI is said to be exploring options beyond acquisition, such as a partnership. However, the report did not mention the reason behind the company's interest in the startup. The report also claimed that the AI startup is currently working on several product designs. One of them is said to be a phone-like device without a screen. Previous reports have claimed that the device could be inspired by the first iPhone. However, the publication adds that the device will not function as a phone. Apart from this, the startup is reportedly also working on product designs of AI-powered household gadgets. In case the acquisition is finalised, the startup's product engineering team would also be included in the deal, the report claimed. However, it is said that former Apple designers Tang Tan and Evans Hankey might not join OpenAI. As per a previous report, Ive was introduced to Altman through Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, one of the early clients of LoveFrom. The OpenAI CEO is reportedly not a co-founder of the company, but he is said to be involved with the project. However, his financial stake in the company is not known.

OpenAI Eyes a Mysterious Startup Backed By Sam Altman and Former Apple Designer Jony Ive

The startup is looking to eventually produce an A.I.-infused consumer device. OpenAI is reportedly mulling a deal to buy io Products, a hardware startup looking to make an A.I. device, for up to $500 million, The Information reported. io Products, which took shape about two years ago, involves several notable tech figures, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple (AAPL) designer Jony Ive. It has also attracted the attention of Steve Jobs' widow, Laurene Powell Jobs. Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter Sign Up Thank you for signing up! By clicking submit, you agree to our <a href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime. See all of our newsletters The startup took shape after Altman and Ive were introduced by AirBnb (ABNB) CEO Brian Chesky, a close friend of Altman who has previously worked with Ive's design studio LoveFrom, which Ive launched shortly after leaving Apple in 2019. Ive spent nearly three decades at Apple honing the company's distinct sleek aesthetic. LoveFrom engineers, many of whom also formerly worked with Ive at Apple, are in charge of building io Products' consumer device that could aid users in everyday tasks, according to The Information. OpenAI, meanwhile, is supplying the technology. The project's current employees include the likes of Tang Tan, who previously led iPhone product design, and Evans Hankey, who formerly succeeded Ive to lead design efforts at Apple. It's unclear whether Tan and Hankey would join OpenAI if a potential acquisition took place, noted The Information. What exactly io Products is working on remains a mystery. The venture has stayed silent on its plans for an A.I.-powered personal product, which could reportedly take the shape of a household device. One thing is for sure: it won't be a traditional smartphone. "I don't think you should try to do a better phone," Altman told Axios of the project last year. io Products is backed by Ive himself and tech investors such as Emerson Collective, the investment firm founded by Steve Jobs' widow, Laurene Powell Jobs. As of last September, the startup was reportedly on track to raise up to $1 billion by the end of 2024. Since its rise into mainstream tech in 2022, OpenAI has made efforts to expand beyond just making A.I. models. In addition to exploring a potential web browser product that would compete with Google, the company is currently finalizing designs for its own in-house A.I. chips in a bid to reduce its dependency on Nvidia (NVDA). OpenAI is hoping to begin mass producing these chips at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) by next year. TSMC also manufactures chips for Nvidia and Apple.

OpenAI May Acquire Jony Ive's AI Hardware Startup For $500M, Including Screenless AI Phone, To Power New Devices And Compete With Apple's iPhone and Siri

Apple's former design chief, Jony Ive, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are actively working on their venture, known as "io Products," and it appears that OpenAI is considering acquiring the AI hardware startup for $500 million. The venture was established more than a year ago and focused on voice-enabled AI assistants for household products. It also includes the ambitions of an AI phone without a screen, but its purpose remains unknown at this point. People familiar with the matter claim that the phone without a screen is "not a phone," but it remains to be seen how the venture positions it. The project is still in its early stages of development and will require time before a physical product is released to the public. Moreover, there are also no concepts available that would give us an idea of how the device looks or performs. The venture is being funded by Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective and Jony Ive himself, and the startup employs a small number of employees at this early phase, which includes Apple's former designers, including Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, who have worked on the iPhone. As for the acquisition, OpenAI is not considering a full-fledged takeover but also a partnership. According to The Information, this would allow OpenAI to gain access to the hardware technology and the engineering team that is building the device. The deal structure constitutes io Products being developed by the engineering team, while OpenAI will provide AI assistance to power the devices. Jony Ive, on the flip side, will work via his LoveFrom studio to contribute to the design of the device. If everything goes well, OpenAI will put itself in direct competition with Apple with its iPhone and Apple Intelligence integration. OpenAI has also been working with Apple since June of last year as it brought ChatGPT to the likes of Siri, which still feels underpowered compared to the competition. AI integration in chatbots is becoming one of the hottest products in the industry, and various companies, including OpenAI, X, Anthropic, Google, and additional companies, are exploring the space. It remains to be seen how Apple and its Siri will sit between the competition, and if it will be capable enough to rival the likes of the new entrants. We will share more details on the matter as soon as further information is available.

OpenAI Eyes $500 Million Deal To Acquire Jony Ive And Sam Altman's AI Hardware Startup: Report - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBF)

OpenAI is reportedly in discussions to acquire the AI hardware startup co-founded by Jony Ive and Sam Altman in a deal worth approximately $500 million. What Happened: OpenAI is considering purchasing io Products, a company that focuses on creating AI-enabled devices, reported TechCrunch (via The Information). The startup was co-founded by former Apple design lead Ive, who left the tech giant in 2019 to start his own design firm, LoveFrom, and OpenAI CEO Altman. See Also: Arm Aims for 50% Data Center CPU Market Share by 2025, Challenging Intel and AMD io Products, which has received funding from Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective and others, has been developing a range of products, including smart home gadgets. The report indicates that OpenAI may choose to partner with io Products instead of acquiring it outright. The small team at io Products includes former Apple designers Tang Tan and Evans Hankey. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It Matters: Earlier this year, OpenAI closed a historic $40 billion funding round, pushing its valuation to $300 billion, with major backing from SoftBank Group SFTBF SFTBY, Microsoft Corp. MSFT, and other prominent investors. According to research firm PitchBook, this marks the largest funding round ever recorded and nearly doubles OpenAI's previous valuation of $157 billion. OpenAI is reportedly projecting its revenue to reach $12.7 billion this year. The company also announced that its enterprise versions of ChatGPT now have 1 million paying users, alongside the introduction of a new $200-per-month "Pro" plan offering access to its most advanced AI models. Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Read Next: OpenAI And Microsoft Back MCP Standard For Web-Surfing AI Agents; Google's Sundar Pichai Asks A Shakespearean Question Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock MSFTMicrosoft Corp$360.500.74%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum39.36Growth64.65Quality33.42Value14.63Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewSFTBFSoftBank Group Corp$38.16-%SFTBYSoftBank Group Corp$20.87-0.86%Got Questions? AskWhich AI startups might attract investor interest?How will OpenAI's acquisition impact tech stocks?Could io Products disrupt the smart home market?What investments are ripe in AI hardware due to this deal?How will SoftBank's backing influence OpenAI?Which companies will benefit from AI advancements in consumer tech?What risks do investors face in AI hardware?How might Apple's design leadership shift affect competitors?Could Microsoft leverage OpenAI's growth for cloud investments?Which venture capital firms are likely to get involved next?Powered ByMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

OpenAI Reportedly Discussed Purchasing Altman/Ive AI Device Startup | PYMNTS.com

OpenAI has reportedly considered acquiring a startup connected to its CEO. Sam Altman had teamed with former Apple designer Jony Ive's studio to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered personal device. According to a report Sunday (April 6) by The Information, OpenAI has in recent weeks weighed a deal that could include a team of engineers at work on the device at the startup, known as io Products. The report says that OpenAI at one point considered a purchase price of at least $500 million. Among the designs for io Products' AI device are a "phone" with no screen and AI-enabled household devices, the report adds. However, these designs are still in their infancy and have yet to be finalized. The Information notes that this acquisition would add to OpenAI's rapidly expanding product stable, which include AI software that can control users' web browsers, AI server chips, and humanoid robots. In addition, this could help OpenAI get its technology in front of more consumers while also placing it in stiffer competition with Apple, one of its key AI partners, the report adds. PYMNTS has contacted OpenAI for comment but has not yet gotten a reply. News that Altman and Ive were at work on an AI device first surfaced in the autumn of 2023. As PYMNTS wrote at the time, the two appeared to be trying to recreate the success of the iPhone and App store with AI. "Apple's business model has always emphasized a tight integration between hardware and software," that report said. "This approach allowed Apple to control both the device and the operating system, ensuring a consistent and user-friendly experience, as well as facilitating the rise of subscription-based pricing models for apps and content, allowing users to pay on a recurring basis for access to premium services or content." In other OpenAI news, last week saw reports that billions of dollars in the company's funding was contingent on its plan to restructure into a for-profit entity. The startup is finalizing a $40 billion funding round that includes a condition that if it fails to complete that restructuring by the close of the year, the round could be scaled back by $20 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. Another report, this one from CNBC, said the provision would reduce the funding round by $10 billion, from $40 billion to $30 billion. The restructuring requires the approval of both its largest shareholder, Microsoft, and the California attorney general. OpenAI is also facing a lawsuit from Elon Musk -- who helped launch the company -- attempting to halt the restructuring.

Sam Altman's OpenAI mulls buying ex-Apple design guru Jony Ive's AI...

Sam Altman's OpenAI has reportedly considered buying a startup run by former Apple design guru Jony Ive for at least $500 million. Ive -- best known for working with late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs on many of company's most iconic product designs, including the iPhone -- has been collaborating with Altman on developing an AI-powered hardware device for the startup, known as io Products, since 2023. Now, the ChatGPT maker has discussed a "full acquisition" of the firm, among other options, The Information reported Monday, citing sources with direct knowledge of the talks. If a deal were to move forward, OpenAI -- which recently secured $40 billion in new financing at a $300 billion valuation -- would also integrate the design team working on the AI hardware device, the report added. The startup could find itself in direct competition with Apple, which has heavily promoted AI integrations for its flagship iPhones but struggled to implement the advanced technology. The AI-powered hardware was described as a "personal device," though The Information's sources said the firm has yet to settle on a final design. Some have reportedly described the product as an AI-powered smartphone without a screen, while others insist it is "not a phone." OpenAI declined to comment. While Altman has informally worked with Ive on the plans, he is not considered a co-founder of io Products. It's unknown if he is an investor. Ive left Apple in 2019 to start his own design firm called LoveFrom. Last year, he confirmed for the first time in an interview with the New York Times that he was working with Altman on an AI hardware project. Ive and Altman reportedly have discussed how such a device would use AI for daily tasks like booking travel or identifying a specific plant from a photo that exceeded the capabilities of traditional smartphones. San Francisco-based io Products poached a pair of key ex-Apple executives: Tang Tan, who led the teams responsible for iPhone design and Apple Watch, and Evans Hankey, who took over from Ive as Apple's top designer before leaving in 2023. Last month, the boss of the Apple team responsible for the Siri digital assistant called a delay of promised AI features for the iPhone "ugly" and said employees "might be feeling embarrassed" about the snafu. The company has postponed the launch of its AI overhaul for Siri while it works out the bugs.