Jony Ive and Sam Altman's AI Hardware Device: Smart Pen Theory Gains Momentum

Jony Ive and Sam Altman's upcoming AI hardware device is not a wearable, according to court documents. The device is described as being unobtrusive and able to rest in a pocket or on a desk, fitting the description of a smart pen. A smart pen would allow users to carry it in their pocket and place it on a desk, aligning with the device's proposed features. The idea of a smart pen is now increasingly likely given the exclusion of wearable devices.

Jony Ive and Sam Altman's upcoming AI hardware device is not a wearable, according to court documents. The device is described as being unobtrusive and able to rest in a pocket or on a desk, fitting the description of a smart pen. A smart pen would allow users to carry it in their pocket and place it on a desk, aligning with the device's proposed features. The idea of a smart pen is now increasingly likely given the exclusion of wearable devices.

Court documents filed by io, the consumer hardware team acquired by OpenAI from Jony Ive's design studio, explicitly state that the first AI product will not be a wearable device [2]. This revelation adds weight to the growing speculation that the device could be a smart pen. A smart pen, which combines traditional writing with digital capabilities, would be a natural fit for the device's proposed features.

The device is described as a third core device that users would put on their desk alongside their MacBook Pro and iPhone. This description aligns well with a smart pen, which can be carried in a pocket and placed on a desk [1]. The idea of a smart pen has gained traction among tech enthusiasts, with some noting that it fits the bill for a device that can be both portable and desk-bound.

The court documents also reveal that io and OpenAI have considered various form factors, including desktop-based and mobile devices, wireless and wired, wearable and portable options [3]. However, the exclusion of wearable devices and the description of the device as unobtrusive and desk-bound suggest that a smart pen is a plausible candidate.

The partnership between OpenAI and io remains intact despite the trademark dispute with IYO, an AI earbud company [4]. The partnership, valued at nearly $6.5 billion, aims to develop consumer AI hardware, with Jony Ive's team integrating OpenAI's research and engineering groups.

The upcoming AI device from Jony Ive and Sam Altman is expected to be a significant innovation in the consumer AI hardware market. While the exact form factor is still under wraps, the exclusion of wearable devices and the description of the device as a third core device suggest that a smart pen is a likely candidate.

References:

[1] https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/24/this-theory-about-jony-ives-ai-hardware-device-seems-increasingly-likely/
[2] https://www.theverge.com/openai/691737/openai-jony-ive-chatgpt-io-ai-device-wearable-headphone-lyo-lawsuit
[3] https://mashable.com/article/openai-jony-ive-deal-chatgpt-owner-scrubs-io-branding
[4] https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/06/23/openai-jony-ive-partnership-scrubbed-trademark-dispute/