It has been confirmed that Jony Ive is working on an AI hardware project with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. A profile of Ive in The New York Times confirmed the collaboration nearly a year after Altman and the longtime Apple designer were first mentioned as potential collaborators.
The article provides some details about what Jony Ive and OpenAI are making. Jony Ive met Sam Altman through the CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. They are using money from Ive’s company and Laurene Powell Jobs’ company, Emerson Collective, to pay for the project. It may raise $1 billion by the end of the year.
Jony Ive’s company called LoveFrom is leading the design of the new device. They have an office in San Francisco with 10 employees so far. Two former Apple employees who worked closely with Ive on the iPhone are also helping.
The article does not say much about what the device will do. Ive and Altman talked about how AI can “do more for users than traditional software.” This is because AI can understand complicated requests better. Last year it was thought the device may use touch screens like the original iPhone.
The Times says Jony Ive and OpenAI are still figuring out exactly what the AI product will be and when it will be ready. Marc Newson, who co-founded LoveFrom with Ive, said they have more to learn.
