OpenAI’s Sam Altman met iPhone designer Jony Ive, may be working on a smartphone or other AI hardware

It seems that OpenAI is just getting started with AI, and has some major plans, much larger than ChatGPT, on how the general public, that is non-techie people use and interact with AI.

Legendary tech designer Jony Ive, one of the most prominent figures when it comes to design in tech, wants to be involved with OpenAI in whatever they are planning to do next.

Call his designs controversial, boring or elegant, but the iPhone, as it is known today, is what it is design-wise, largely because of Jony Ive. Ive has a pretty impressive resume given his work with Apple and his own design firm, Love From, which he started when he departed Apple in 2019.

OpenAI working on an AI personal device
OpenAI’s founder, Sam Altman, held a meeting with Jony Ive, the renowned designer responsible for Apple’s iconic products. Their discussions revolved around the development of an AI hardware device, as conveyed by two individuals familiar with the matter.

The potential implications of this collaboration are substantial, and it is conceivable that Sam Altman may seek Jony Ive’s assistance in creating a next-generation consumer electronics device, aimed at seamlessly integrating AI into our daily lives.

The conversations between these two visionaries strongly suggest a future heavily influenced by artificial intelligence in the technology landscape. Up to this point, AI has primarily been associated with software programs and machine learning algorithms.

A successful partnership, should it materialize, would represent one of the initial endeavours to introduce AI into the mass market for consumer devices.

No specifics at this point, but the meeting itself has sent shockwaves
While specific details about the nature of this product remain scarce, the involvement of Jony Ive alone inspires confidence. According to Dan Ives, the managing partner of Wedbush Securities, who is a highly respected voice in the financial world, “Jony Ive is undeniably one of the most brilliant minds of our generation.”

Dan Ives, who is not related to Jon Ive, has been consistently optimistic about the future of AI, comparing the current investment climate to the early days of the internet in 1995, rather than the speculative bubble of 1999 preceding the dotcom crash.

As Ives noted in June, we are witnessing the emergence of the second, third, and fourth stages of this AI revolution, shaping the technological landscape. Drawing from his extensive experience in the tech sector, Ives believes that a fourth industrial revolution is unfolding, which is still underestimated by many in the financial industry.

In a manner akin to how personal computers were once regarded as the future of consumer electronics, Ives, referencing the report about Altman’s discussions with Ive, predicts that AI will take a central role in the design of new hardware.

He also emphasized that OpenAI, in collaboration with Nvidia, is at the forefront of this AI revolution, and Jony Ive aspires to be at the forefront, much like he played a pivotal role in the remarkable success of the iPhone and Apple’s innovative products.

When AI meets inspired design
Over the past year, Sam Altman has risen to prominence as a leading figure in Silicon Valley and has garnered global attention, positioning himself as the face of the AI revolution. His approachable demeanor and openness to regulation stand in stark contrast to the previous tech industry giants.

Meanwhile, Jony Ive has built his reputation as a design visionary, working closely with Apple’s co-founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, and later with Tim Cook, to create some of the world’s most beloved consumer products, including the vibrant iMac desktops, the iconic iPhone with its revolutionary buttonless design, and an Apple Watch recognized as a fashion accessory.