In a move that could redefine how we interact with artificial intelligence, OpenAI just bought the startup IO for a staggering $6.5 Billion. But what makes this deal exciting? It is the fact that it was founded by Joni Ive, the designer behind some of Apple’s most iconic products like the iPhone. OpenAI and Ives will seek to develope a new generation of AI powered devices that could move artificial intelligence beyond our smartphones to something more intuitive and seamless.
The tech world knows well of the AI’s potential for years, but so far most of it’s applications are used in apps and software. Yes, we chat with ChatGPT, create images with DALL-E and use AI assistants on our phones daily, BUT there is no dedicated gadget for AI. Nothing that makes it feel as essential as the iPhone when it first launched. There have been attempts, like Humane with its AI Pin, but nothing truly caught on. That’s about to change since, OpenAI with its cutting edge technology and Mr. Ives with his design expertise, believe they can crack the code and deliver something revolutionary.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Jony Ive have one goal. To create what they called “A new family of products” for the age to come, the Age of artificial general intelligence (AGI). A future where AI matches human level thinking. They envision a world where AI blends into out lives through ambient computing. Devices that work quietly in the background, helping us without relying on smartphones and constant notifications on a screen.
Both Altman and Ive have expressed their exasperation on todays technology. Ive admitted feeling some regret on how smartphones give us constant distractions and anxiety of being always connected. ” I shoulder a lot of responsibility for what these things have brought us”, he said. Altman agreed with this sentiment, comparing modern technology to “being jolted on a crowded street in New York, or being bombarded with notifications and flashing lights in Las Vegas”. Their mission isn’t just about building cool gadgets. It is about designing AI tools that reduce noise instead of adding to it.
The question is, what might these AI devices look like? No specifics have been revealed yet, but it was hinted that more details will come in 2025. As expected, speculations are running wild. From AI powered glasses that that process the world in real time, to screenless wearables that acts as personal assistants. Some believe they will take another shot at a device similar to Humane’s AI pin, while others hope for something completely unexpected, like a neural interface or a holographic companion. Whatever it is they create, it has to be intuitive, useful and most importantly, something people actually want to use.
There major challenges thought that come with this ambitious vision. Open AI is investing a lot of money on an unproven startup at a time when the company itself isn’t yet profitable. AI models like ChatGPT are expensive to build and OpenAI is under pressure to generate more revenue. There is also the shadow of past AI hardware failures. Amazons Alexa gadgets never became essential and Googles AI experiments never caught on. These failures made the consumers wary of new tech gimmick, so OpenAI and Ive need to deliver a product that is not only innovative but also useful.
Beyond financial and market risks, OpenAI is dealing with corporate growing pains. Originally founded as a nonprofit, the company is now restructuring to attract more investments. Key backers like SoftBank could reduce its funding if things dont progress as planned. If we add the ongoing legal battles, like the one with New York Times copyright lawsuit, the future looks challenging.
Despite all that, the deal is moving forward. LoveForm, Ive’s design studio, will remain independent but his team of 55 engineers will join OpenAI to work on this project. If all goes well we could see the first fruits of this partnership as early as next year.
The big question is whether this collaboration will be remembered as the start of a new tech era of an expensive failed project. If anyone can reshape how we interact we technology is this duo, a pioneer of AI and a designer behind some of the most beloved devices in history. For the time being, all we can do is wait and see what the future of AI hardware might bring.
