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OpenAI is working with former Apple designer Jony Ive on a new device. It's intended to be the third landmark product in the history of modern technology—after the iPhone and the MacBook Pro. The device hasn't been officially announced yet, but initial details have leaked from an internal conversation obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Learn more about the plans, the team's goals, and the timeline here.
Jony Ive shaped the design of Apple products for decades. His signature can be seen in almost every modern Apple device. Now he's taking a new approach: Together with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, he's developing a device that will bring artificial intelligence into its own hardware form. The project is ambitious and is described as a "third core device." It's intended to be neither a smartphone nor a pair of glasses, but rather usher in a new product category.
What is planned?
OpenAI has acquired the hardware startup "io," co-founded by Jony Ive. The goal is to develop its own devices based on artificial intelligence. The first product in this new series is already in development. Unlike many new gadgets, it is neither a wearable device like glasses nor another smartphone. Ive is skeptical of wearables, and Altman pursues the goal of freeing people from screens. The new device should be able to comprehensively perceive the user's surroundings and life. It will be unobtrusive and designed to fit either in a pocket or to remain permanently on a desk. It is not intended for constant attention, but rather to integrate into everyday life without being a disruption.
Secrecy as a strategy
According to the Wall Street Journal report, secrecy is key for Altman. He wants competitors to avoid learning what the device looks like or how it works ahead of time. This is the only way to prevent it from being copied before it's ready for market. Altman said internally that the team is already negotiating with suppliers who could produce the device in large quantities. Altman does not expect the device to become a mass product immediately. OpenAI does not plan to ship 100 million units from day one. But the goal is to reach that number faster than any company before it. The current plan is to bring the product to market by the end of next year. A prototype already exists. Sam Altman was allowed to take it home and test it. His conclusion: It is the most impressive piece of technology he has ever seen.
OpenAI's largest acquisition
OpenAI's acquisition of "io" is not yet complete, but is expected to be approved this summer. With a purchase price of $6.5 billion, it is the largest acquisition in OpenAI's history. This underscores the company's commitment to combining AI and hardware.
Jony Ive's next design revolution
The new device from Jony Ive and OpenAI isn't just a refinement of existing technology. It's intended to be a new kind of product that makes AI suitable for everyday use without being intrusive. A discreet companion with a big impact. Many details are still under wraps, but the direction is clear: OpenAI wants to rethink hardware. And Jony Ive is contributing his experience to make that happen. (Image: Shutterstock / Henry Franklin)
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