Altman, Ive, and Powell Jobs Unite to Innovate AI Devices with $1 Billion Vision
1min read OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly joining forces with former Apple design chief Jony Ive and Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, to establish a startup focused on developing innovative artificial intelligence devices.
While rumors of collaboration between Altman and Ive emerged last September, a recent profile of Ive has confirmed these plans. Ive, who worked at Apple for almost three decades and founded the design firm LoveForm after departing in 2019, was instrumental in the design of groundbreaking products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
It is said that Ive and Altman have engaged in multiple discussions over meals, strategizing on the development of a new computational device centered on AI. Laurene Powell Jobs is set to support the venture through her organization, Emerson Collective, which focuses on investments and philanthropy.
According to Marc Newson, co-founder of LoveForm, the duo is still deliberating on the product design and release timeline. Reports suggest the startup aims to secure up to $1 billion in initial funding by the end of this year.
The project currently boasts a team of 10 employees, including Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, both of whom were pivotal in designing the iPhone under Ive’s stewardship. Although influenced by touch-screen technology and the original iPhone, Altman has denied that the upcoming device will challenge smartphones, expressing disinterest in competing with them directly.
Despite optimism, the potential of AI devices remains uncertain. Former Apple employees Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno's AI Pin, a similar endeavor, faced challenges with more product returns than purchases reported last month.
Nevertheless, Ive remains enthusiastic about the project, aiming to create a product that offers a novel computing experience with fewer social disruption than the iPhone.