Jony Ive, renowned for his influential design work at Apple, has confirmed his collaboration with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on an innovative AI hardware project. The collaboration, reportedly funded by Ive and the Emerson Collective—Laurene Powell Jobs' organization—has the potential to secure up to $1 billion in funding by year-end. Currently, the project employs ten individuals, including Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, both of whom played pivotal roles in the development of the iPhone. Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom, is spearheading the project’s design, with operations based in a newly acquired 32,000-square-foot office in San Francisco.
Although details about the device remain sparse, it is suggested that it will leverage generative AI capabilities to enhance user experiences beyond traditional software limitations. Discussions between Ive and Altman indicate that the device may draw inspiration from touchscreen technology and the original iPhone. However, Co-Founder of LoveFrom, Marc Newson, stated that the specific features and release timeline for the AI product are still under consideration.
