British designer Sir Jony Ive, the creative force behind Apple’s iconic iPhone, iMac, iPod, and iPad, has joined forces with OpenAI ChatGPT, to revolutioniae personal technology through a new generation of AI-powered devices with a deal of ₦10.04 trillion ($6.5 billion).
OpenAI has acquired Ive’s startup, io, a major leap into the hardware space as it seeks to move beyond software-based AI experiences. The partnership builds on two years of quiet collaboration between OpenAI and Ive’s design firm .
Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, who describes Ive as the “greatest designer in the world” reveales that the designer will lead the company’s design and creative direction.
Altma speaking on the project says that, “I think we have the opportunity here to completely re-imagine what it means to use a computer.Ive echoed this ambition, noting, The world is on the brink of a new generation of technology.”
The team has already developed a prototype, which Altman refers to as “the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.” Ive added that the device they’ve been working on has completely captured people’s imagination.
While specific details about the new product remain unknown, reports suggest mass production is expected in 2027, with assembly likely taking place outside China possibly in Vietnam in a bid to reduce geopolitical risks.
Ive’s departure from Apple in 2019, after 27 years of iconic design work, marked a turning point for the tech company. Apple shares dipped more than 2% following the announcement of the OpenAI deal, reflecting market jitters about the potential disruption to the iPhone’s dominance.
Having ignited a global AI investment boom with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI now joins a growing list of tech giants including Meta, Google, and Apple that are investing in AI-powered hardware, such as headsets and glasses. However, the industry remains in doubt towards the success of the project after several high-profile failures in the AI hardware space.
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