Jony Ive Joins Forces with OpenAI to Launch Exciting AI Device Startup

Jony Ive, the renowned designer who stepped away from his full-time position at Apple five years ago, is embarking on an exciting new startup in collaboration with OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. This partnership was initially reported last year, and Ive recently confirmed it in a profile by The New York Times discussing his activities since leaving Apple.

While the startup's name remains under wraps, its inception was inspired by conversations between Ive and Altman during a series of dinners last year. With Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom, at the helm, the objective is to develop “a product that leverages AI to create a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone.”

Industrial designer Marc Newson, a collaborator with Ive, stated that specific details about the product and its launch timeline are still in the works. Despite the ambiguity, the startup is actively seeking funding, with contributions from Laurene Powell Jobs’ Emerson Collective and Ive himself. Reports suggest that the company aims to raise close to $1 billion by the end of this year.