OpenAI and Jony Ive Partner to Create Artificial Intelligence-Powered Smartphone

In recent times, the world has witnessed a surge in the popularity of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Following the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022, there have been significant advancements in this field, including the emergence of AI chatbots and generative AI tools. The introduction of OpenAI’s chatbot sparked a revolution, leading to major companies like Microsoft, Google, and Meta launching their own chatbots. OpenAI is now poised to once again pioneer the development of an AI consumer device, and to accomplish this, it has partnered with former Apple designer Jony Ive and Masayoshi Son, the CEO of Softbank.

OpenAI’s collaboration with Jony Ive

According to a Financial Times report (via MacRumors ), Softbank is funding a $1 billion project to create an AI consumer device led by OpenAI’s Sam Altman and former Apple designer Jony Ive. Together with Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, they are planning to build an “iPhone of artificial intelligence”.

While details of the AI device were not disclosed, the report noted, “Altman and Ive have been brainstorming at the designer’s San Francisco studio about what a new consumer product based on OpenAI’s technology would look like, the people said.” However, everything is still in the discussion stage and it could take years to bring any such product to market, the report further reveals.

People involved in the project are looking at how Apple’s innovation in touchscreen technology paved the way for wireless internet and could use it as inspiration to build a more “intuitive and natural” way to interact with AI. The process of creating the device could begin with the creation of a new company that would utilize the resources, technology, and workforce of three companies—Sam Altman’s OpenAI, Jony Ive’s LoveFrom, and Masayoshi Son’s Softbank.

The AI revolution

Large technology companies have increasingly invested in artificial intelligence. At its Connect 2023 event on September 27, Meta announced several new AI products, including Meta AI, its generative AI speech assistant. It is built using a custom model based on the powerful Llama 2 large language model, which the company released for public commercial use in July.

In addition, Meta has created up to 28 chatbots, all with unique personalities and backstories. Personalities include celebrities such as Charli D’Amelio, Snoop Dogg, Kendall Jenner, MrBeast, Paris Hilton and more.