OpenAI and Jony Ive share a vision: a device that democratizes access to artificial intelligence for all.
OpenAI, the research institution behind the popular ChatGPT chatbot, is reportedly engaged in advanced discussions with former Apple designer Jony Ive and SoftBank’s CEO, Masayoshi Son, regarding a potential collaboration to launch a novel project. This endeavor, still in its preliminary stages, aspires to create a consumer-oriented device driven by artificial intelligence, with the aim of providing users with a more natural and intuitive means of interacting with AI, akin to how the iPhone revolutionized touchscreen computing.
Insider sources, as cited in the Financial Times report, reveal that Ive’s company, LoveFrom, has been collaborating with OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, to brainstorm ideas for the device’s design and functionality. It’s worth noting that Ive founded LoveFrom after departing from Apple in 2019.
This venture would also entail the participation of SoftBank, the Japanese conglomerate with a controlling 90 percent stake in Arm, the semiconductor design company. Masayoshi Son has expressed his willingness to invest over $1 billion in the project and offer Arm’s technology for the development of the device.
The discussions are reportedly in an advanced and “substantive” stage, although no formal agreement has been reached as of now. The process of finalizing a deal and making a formal announcement is anticipated to span several months. Furthermore, if a deal is eventually struck, the development of any resulting hardware product is expected to be a multi-year endeavor.
Jony Ive is renowned for his pivotal role in the creation of the inaugural iPhone, unveiled in 2007, which subsequently achieved worldwide acclaim and recognition. Nevertheless, the smartphone market has since reached a saturation point, prompting numerous tech companies to seek the next groundbreaking innovation in consumer electronics. While virtual reality headsets have emerged as potential candidates, none have thus far attained the same level of widespread popularity as the smartphone.
OpenAI aims to shift this landscape with its groundbreaking AI technology, which has been causing significant ripples within the industry. Just this week, OpenAI unveiled an array of new capabilities for its chatbot, ChatGPT, including voice control, image analysis, and web browsing functionality.
