Former Apple designer Jony Ive and Sam Altman collaborate on a new AI product

Jony Ive, former design head at Apple, and OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, have announced that they are working on new AI hardware. This comes almost a year after there were reports of the two working together with more information revealed in a New York Times profile of Ive.

Airbnb’s chief executive officer, Brian Chesky, initiated the collaboration, bringing these two great minds together. The venture is financed in part by Ive, with more money coming from the Emerson Collective, which is run by Laurene Powell Jobs. 

Though the project is relatively new, it has the potential to raise $1 billion in funding by the end of this year. Interestingly, there is no mention of SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who was reported last year to have invested in the venture.

At present, the team is small, with only ten members. However, it includes some of Ive’s key former colleagues at Apple such as Tang Tang and Evans Hankey who helped in the development of the iPhone. The design of the new AI hardware is being overseen by LoveFrom, which is being led by Ive.

Project details remain scarce as development quietly progresses

The new AI hardware uses generative AI technology in an effort to go beyond the typical software integration with user experience. As reported by the Times, both Ive and Altman agree that due to the new capacities of AI, the application of this tech in handling complex user inquiries allows for developments in new hardware devices. Although few details have been disclosed about the product itself, reports last year indicated that the project could be based on the first iPhone and touch screen.

As stated in the report, the team is optimizing the product that helps to achieve a less obtrusive and more natural approach to computation. The co-founder of LoveFrom, Marc Newson, said that the design is still in its draft stage, and there is no fixed date for the AI product.

The project is evidently still young, particularly given that it has only a few employees and is just starting. Although The New York Times profile suggested enormous prospects, it equally highlighted doubts about the business in general. The startup is currently soliciting funds even though there is no clear information about the commodity or when it will be available.  

OpenAI is said to be in talks for a new funding round that could elevate the company’s valuation to $150 billion. According to the reports, the firm is looking to raise $6.5 billion from investors at its current valuation.