Hajra Naz
SAN FRANCISCO — Jony Ive, the legendary designer who helped shape Apple’s most iconic products, is teaming up with OpenAI to create a new kind of device built specifically for generative AI.
In a video shared Wednesday, OpenAI announced that it’s acquiring Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom IO, which is reportedly valued at $6.5 billion. With that, Ive and his team will now lead the design efforts at OpenAI.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called a prototype Ive shared with him “the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen,” though he didn’t reveal any specifics. He added that a breakthrough like AI deserves a completely new way of interacting with it — something better than typing on a keyboard.
The company says we can expect to see the results of this partnership sometime next year.
Why This Matters
Jony Ive is no stranger to world-changing products. During his time at Apple (1992–2019), he worked closely with Steve Jobs to design devices like the iMac, iPod, iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods — products that helped redefine modern tech.
Now, he’s hoping to do the same for AI.
“The products we use to connect with powerful technology are decades old,” Ive said. “It just makes sense to ask: isn’t there something better than these legacy devices?”
Could This Be the Beginning of a Post-Smartphone Era?
OpenAI’s move could be a serious challenge to Apple, especially as the iPhone maker has been slow to roll out new AI features. Its upgraded Siri assistant has been delayed, and the promised AI tools for iPhone 16 still haven’t been fully implemented.
Apple’s stock dipped nearly 3% in after-hours trading following the news.
Other tech giants like Amazon are also jumping into the AI-device race. Amazon is rolling out a smarter version of Alexa, known as Alexa+, across home devices like speakers and TVs.
Startups are trying too. In 2024, a company called Humane launched its AI Pin — a wearable gadget meant to answer voice questions and take calls. But it flopped due to high cost and performance issues and was later bought by HP at a discount.
What’s Next?
Industry experts say the big question is whether a dedicated AI device can replace the smartphone or at least change how we interact with technology.
“Right now, the phone is still the gateway to all these tools,” said Roger Beharry Lall, an analyst at IDC. “But if anyone can design the next big thing, it’s Jony Ive.”
OpenAI, now one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful companies after launching ChatGPT in 2022, is betting big that a new kind of device could redefine how we use AI in everyday life.
And with Jony Ive on board, the future of AI hardware just got a whole lot more interesting.
