Confirmed: Sam Altman and Jony Ive are working on a new AI device
Apple's former chief designer is working with OpenAI on a new AI device. He normally designs lightsabers for Star Wars and expensive jackets.
(Image: Tatiana Shepeleva/Shutterstock.com)
Rumors that Jony Ive is working with Sam Altman on new AI hardware have been confirmed. Ive, the former chief designer at Apple, spoke to the New York Times. The result is a detailed portrait of – and the certainty that he and the OpenAI boss have something going on. However, not much is revealed about the potential successor to the iPhone.
Ive left Apple five years ago and since then has let little be known about himself, especially his work. Instead of coming up with his own products, as he had announced, Ive has joined the ranks of celebrities. He was jointly responsible for a Met Gala. This is the event at which invited guests in New York try to outdo each other in costume absurdities and conspicuousness. Ive also worked on designing a new lightsaber for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". And according to the article, he has also bought almost an entire block of houses in the middle of San Francisco.
It was known that Ive had founded his own design company there: LoveForm. Apart from his own typography for the name, little was previously known about what the company was working on. The New York Times is now reporting on a Moncler jacket with magnetic buttons in the shape of the LoveForm logo, a bear. The jacket is due to be released in the fall and will cost 2,000 US dollars. LoveForm's customers also include Ferrari, AirBnB and others.
LoveForm takes on design contract from OpenAI
The block in San Francisco is also home to another well-known company: OpenAI. The head of AirBnB is said to have introduced Altman and Ive years ago. LoveForm will create the design of an undisclosed AI product. They have apparently founded a start-up together and raised funds privately. Around one billion US dollars is to be raised from investors by the end of the year. However, it is still not known exactly what the product will contain. According to the New York Times, it should be less disruptive than the iPhone, but create a computer experience with the help of AI.
The first rumors about Altman and Ive meeting were already circulating a year ago. A few months ago, The Information reported that an AI product was in development.
There are apparently no details about the product, how far along the development is or even a target timeline. Ive also says in the article that he would not judge a new device by its return on investment – that would miss the point. You have to make friends with uncertainty.
(emw)
