OpenAI and Jony Ive Are Creating a Screenless AI Device That Understands You Deeply
OpenAI, in partnership with the iconic designer Jony Ive, is reportedly working on an innovative AI device that intends to serve as a screenless, intelligent companion seamlessly woven into the fabric of users’ daily routines.
As per a report from The Wall Street Journal, this device is part of OpenAI’s larger ambition following its acquisition of Ive’s enterprise, LoveFrom (also known as “io”), which he co-established after his tenure at Apple. The undertaking is expected to involve the manufacturing of up to 100 million units, with the objective of crafting a new type of personal technology that does not depend on conventional screens.
The concept, as outlined in an audio recording of an internal OpenAI meeting shared with the Journal, envisions the device being “fully cognizant of a user’s environment and life,” while being compact enough to fit in a pocket or rest discreetly on a desk. It’s imagined as a “third core device” in conjunction with a MacBook Pro and an iPhone.
The vision seeks to transcend the outdated designs of smartphones and laptops. “The gadgets we’re currently utilizing to connect us to extraordinary technology—they’re decades old,” Ive mentioned in a video accompanying the announcement. He and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman aspire to establish a more organic, seamless interaction between individuals and AI.
This idea resonates with the AI assistant from the film Her, where the protagonist carries a screenless AI device in his shirt pocket, capable of seeing and hearing everything around him. Instead of pursuing augmented or extended reality (XR) glasses like those being developed by Google or Meta, OpenAI seems to favor a more understated, ambient method.
This is not the first venture into such a device. The Humane AI Pin, a screenless wearable supported by Altman and created by former Apple leaders, recently attempted—and ultimately failed—to disrupt the smartphone industry. Despite its lofty aspirations, the device faced numerous technical issues and lackluster performance, leading to its withdrawal from the market. However, OpenAI’s cutting-edge AI models, despite occasional hallucinations, rank among the most advanced available today, potentially offering this new device a greater likelihood of success.
As OpenAI and Ive advance with this daring initiative, they are banking on a future where AI is omnipresent yet unobtrusive—an always-active assistant that seamlessly integrates into the daily tapestry of life.
Disclosure: Mashable’s parent company, Ziff Davis, initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI in April, alleging copyright infringement concerning the training and functioning of its AI systems.