Jony Ive and Sam Altman reportedly collaborating on new AI device
Jony Ive (renowned Apple product designer, responsible for many iconic products) and Sam Altman, (the CEO of OpenAi, the makers of ChatGPT) are rumored to be working together on a new product that could be positioned as another “the new everything tool.”
Jony Ive is credited as the chief designer behind many of Apple's most iconic product designs.
Jony Ive's iconic designs for Apple over the years
Despite the lack of specific details about the device, there is a lot of speculation about what it might be like. Some reports suggest it could be akin to the "iPhone of AI," aiming to reinvent how users interact with AI. But Altman has expressed no interest in competing directly with smartphones.
My opinion: the field is wide open
The upcoming Humane AI Pin (pictured below) and Rabbit R1 devices have already shown us that there is a lot of space in this field to explore. The smartphone seemed for a long time like the logical endpoint of consumer technology, but it has begun to show its limits as peoples' expectations of technology have evolved. The Humane Pin's laser-projected display is a great example of an innovative idea that may or may not work in different scenarios, making it a fascinating development.
I personally am very excited to see what Jony Ive comes up with, and how Altman will try to integrate AI software in different ways.
I'll also write about my thoughts on the Humane AI Pin in a separate post soon.
Wrap up
Ive’s design acumen combined with Sam’s leadership & involvement with the progress at OpenAI, indeed could spell a unique power-combo that could further challenge Apple’s dominance of the “everything tool” category.
Although much remains to be seen, Jony Ive’s creative experience with human computer interactions, combined with Altman’s experience with AI and leadership, is definitely a power combo to watch.