Jony Ive, Sam Altman Join Hands To Develop An AI Hardware

Jony Ive, Apple's former Chief Design Officer, is working with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on an AI hardware project aimed at providing a less socially disruptive computing experience than the iPhone. This collaboration was verified in a recent story in The New York Times.

The collaboration, which has been rumoured for nearly a year, is funded by Ive and Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective. The campaign intends to raise USD 1 billion by the end of 2024. Currently, the project has a small crew of only ten people, including important leaders Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, who previously collaborated with Ive on the iPhone.

Ive's design business, LoveFrom, is leading the development of the new device, which is being built in a 32,000-square-foot office in San Francisco as part of Ive's major real estate acquisition in the area. Marc Newson, co-founder of LoveFrom, stated that while the team is making progress, the particular aspects and timeframe for the product's launch are still being discussed.

The new artificial intelligence device is likely to be inspired by the original iPhone and touchscreen technology, to create a seamless user experience that prioritises social well-being. This initiative is a big move for Ive, who has been a key force in Apple's design growth since 1992, helping to create iconic devices like the iMac, iPhone and Apple Watch.

Ive departed Apple in 2019 after more than 20 years of design leadership. His work encompasses not only product design, but also large-scale architectural projects such as Apple Park and retail outlets.