OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple design chief Jony Ive are embarking on an innovative AI hardware project designed for personal use. First reported in April, this initiative is currently in search of external investment to fuel its ambitious goals. On September 21, Ive publicly confirmed this high-profile collaboration.
The sheer scale of the project is remarkable, with expectations to raise $1 billion by the end of this year, driven by investment from Emerson Collective, the philanthropic organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of the late Steve Jobs. The startup team dedicated to this cutting-edge device is notably small, comprising only 10 employees.
However, it includes significant industry expertise, featuring two key individuals who previously collaborated with Ive in developing the iPhone: Tang Tan and Evans Hankey. While there are circulating market rumors positing that the forthcoming product will draw inspiration from touchscreen technology and the original iPhone, official confirmation of these specifics has yet to be disclosed.
The collaboration between Altman and Ive marks a pivotal moment in the intersection of AI and hardware technology, promising to push the boundaries of user experience and personal computing to new heights..