A new, compact, screenless, context-recognizable AI device is being developed by OpenAI in collaboration with legendary designer Jony Ive, who was behind Apple's iconic products.
The first details of the device were leaked through an internal meeting of OpenAI, which was noted by The Wall Street Journal after the company announced a deal to buy AI IO, a hardware company co-founded by Ive, worth $6.5 billion.
Expected to launch in late 2026, the first device in this new product line is described as not attractive, not wearing glasses and not needing to be mounted on the body. Sam altman said the product will act as a "third core device" placed next to the MacBook Pro and iPhone on the user's desk. OpenAI expects the device to become popular quickly, with distribution speeds surpassing any new product that has previously reached 100 million units.
altman also stressed that the project could be the biggest thing the company has ever done. He predicted that the IO buyback deal could help increase OpenAI's value by $1 trillion. Ive called it a new design movement, reminiscent of his time working with Steve Jobs at Apple before 2011.
Although the product details are kept tight to avoid being copied by the opponent before the public debut, the internal meeting shows that the device will not be a phone, not smart glass and unlike the Humane AI battery that Mr. Ive has criticized. He also shared that the motivation for developing new equipment originated from the desire to overcome "unintended consequences" that the iPhone has caused for users.
Mr. altman and Mr. Ive said that their relationship is not only based on work harmony but also comes from common values and a long-term vision for the future of technology. Sam altman affirmed: We have the opportunity to create the greatest thing ever for the company here.
The combination of OpenAI's AI expertise and Mr. Ive's revolutionary design philosophy is promising to open a completely new direction for personal devices - a screenless, compact device that understands the user's living environment, completely different from traditional approaches.
