Jony Ive, the legendary former Apple Chief Design Officer, has officially confirmed his involvement in developing a new AI device with OpenAI. The project, still in its early stages, is expected to raise up to $1 billion by the end of 2024 and aims to revolutionize human interaction with AI.
Early Collaboration and Funding
Ive’s collaboration with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, was first discussed in the media almost a year ago. This information has now been officially confirmed in a New York Times article, shedding light on what Ive has been doing since leaving Apple. The project blends expertise in AI and hardware, potentially creating a new class of computing devices based on generative AI capabilities. These capabilities promise to handle complex queries more efficiently than traditional software.
Funding details remain partially confidential, but it’s known that Ive and Altman were introduced by Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb. The project is being financed by Ive and the Emerson Collective, owned by Laurene Powell Jobs. While it’s reported that up to $1 billion could be raised by the end of 2024, the New York Times didn’t mention Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, despite rumors of a $1 billion investment from him last year.
Project Team and Development
The project currently employs 10 people, including key figures from Ive’s Apple days, such as Tang Tan and Evans Hankey. LoveFrom, a company founded by Ive, is handling the device design. The team operates from a 2,973-square-foot office in San Francisco, part of a real estate complex purchased by Ive for $90 million, adds NIX Solutions.
Marc Newson, co-founder of LoveFrom, confirmed in an interview with The New York Times that the specifications of the generative AI product and its launch timeline are still under development. This indicates that the project remains in its early stages, and its concept may evolve. We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge about this exciting venture.