A report in The Information claims that Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive is exploring opportunities to collaborate with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on developing an AI-focused hardware device.
Ive and Altman, who are said to be friends, have been in talks about what new hardware for the age of artificial intelligence might look like. However, details about the potential device are scarce. This hardware could be developed through OpenAI, Altman-backed startup Tools for Humanity, or a separate initiative.
Altman also has previous experience partnering with Ive’s former colleagues on new products. Thomas Meyerhoffer, Ive’s first hire at Apple, had designed the AI-powered Orb human eye scanner through Tools for Humanity.
Sources say SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son was also involved in the initial talks between Ive and Altman. As chairman of one of the largest AI investors, Son could provide support if the project moves forward.
Son has poured over $140 billion into artificial intelligence through SoftBank over the past decade. Son’s involvement could signal ambitions for the potential new hardware to play a role in the emerging AI industry.
If you don’t know, Jony Ive left Apple in 2019 after working at Apple for over 30 years. He said he wants to focus his attention on designing wearable technology products and health and wellness products.
In 2021, he teamed up with another Apple employee, Marc Newson, to start their own independent design firm called LoveFrom. Since then, the company has kept a low profile, with its only non-Apple customer being Airbnb, which signed a long-term deal in 2020.
On the other hand, OpenAI has recently collaborated with some technology giants such as Microsoft. In this context, Microsoft is integrating artificial intelligence (GPT in particular) into its products and services, from Office 365 to Bing. The company also introduced Microsoft Copilot as your “daily AI companion.”
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