Jony Ive and Sam Altman's Ambitious AI Device: Pioneering Personal Technology

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Jony Ive, former Apple design chief, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, seek funding to develop an innovative AI-powered personal device.

This partnership aims to transcend traditional technology boundaries, moving beyond smartphone conventions to introduce a device inspired by the vision of wearable AI without a screen. As reported last year, the project's ambition is underscored by discussions with top venture capitalists and a significant investment goal set by Ive.

Forging the Future: Ive and Altman's Venture into Uncharted AI Device Territory

Little is known about the AI device now, but it will not resemble a smartphone. Altman is a significant investor in the Humane AI pin, a wearable AI device without a screen, so he and Ive may collaborate on a similar product.

According to MacRumors, a possible collaboration between Ive and Altman first surfaced last fall, but discussions were still in the early stages, and nothing was official. Ive and Altman's unnamed startup is now seeking funding from prominent venture capitalists, with Ive hoping to raise $1 billion in total.

OpenAI could own a stake in the company, and the duo has been in talks with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. Potential investors include OpenAI investor Thrive Capital and Emerson Collective, a venture capital firm and philanthropic organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs.

Ive stepped down as Apple's design chief in 2019. While he continued working with the Cupertino company as a consultant through his firm LoveFrom for several years afterward, Ive and Apple stopped working together in 2022.

Envisioning AI's Next Leap: Ive and Altman Explore Novel Hardware Possibilities

Based on last year's report, according to a source, former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have been discussing the development of a new AI hardware device.

According to people familiar with the conversations, both men have discussed the idea with SoftBank CEO and investor Masayoshi Son. Still, it is being determined whether he will continue to be involved. Since leaving Apple, Ive has focused on working for various clients through his British design studio, LoveFrom.

The report lacks details and does not reveal anything about what such a device could be, but according to one source familiar with the matter, Ive and Altman are said to be friends who have been discussing "what new hardware for the age of AI could look like."

According to people familiar with the conversations, both men have discussed the idea with SoftBank CEO and investor Masayoshi Son. Still, it is being determined whether he will continue to be involved. Since leaving Apple, Ive has focused on working for various clients through his British design studio, LoveFrom.

The report lacks details and does not reveal anything about what such a device could be, but according to one source familiar with the matter, Ive and Altman are said to be friends who have been discussing "what new hardware for the age of AI could look like."

Altman is a significant investor in the consumer hardware startup Humane, founded by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, both former Apple employees. The startup intends to create a screenless wearable device that can be controlled via voice commands and gestures and projects information onto surfaces in front of it. In May, Chaudhri demonstrated a prototype to a TEDTalk audience. Ultimately, Humane intends to incorporate OpenAI's technology into the device.

Blending Vision and Voice: The Future of AI Wearables and ChatGPT's Expanding Influence

Altman is a significant investor in the consumer hardware startup Humane, founded by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, both former Apple employees. The startup intends to create a screenless wearable device that can be controlled via voice commands and gestures and projects information onto surfaces in front of it. In May, Chaudhri demonstrated a prototype to a TEDTalk audience. Ultimately, Humane intends to incorporate OpenAI's technology into the device.

Since its public release less than a year ago, OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot has caused quite a stir in the tech world. ChatGPT subscriptions and paid access to the chatbot's most advanced incarnation, GPT-4, have driven the company's annual revenue to more than $1 billion. In May 2023, OpenAI launched an official ChatGPT app for iPhones and iPads.

According to a previous report, Apple has significantly increased its spending on artificial intelligence. Although Apple's "Foundational Models" team, which works on conversational AI, consists of only 16 people, the company is said to spend millions of dollars per day training language models that may one day be integrated into Siri.

Photo: The Economist/YouTube Screenshot