At OpenAI’s developer conference in San Francisco on Monday, CEO Sam Altman and former Apple designer Jony Ive talked about their new line of AI-powered devices. The pair spoke about the “family of devices” they are developing, but offered few specifics, leaving much to the imagination. “As great as phones and computers are, there’s something new to do,” Altman said on stage alongside Ive, according to Wired. The two confirmed that OpenAI is working on multiple hardware products, though details like design, functionality, and use cases remain under wraps.
“Hardware is hard. Figuring out new computing form factors is hard,” Altman said in a media briefing earlier in the day. “I think we have a chance to do something amazing, but it will take a while.”
Ive said his team has explored “15 to 20 really compelling product” ideas as they search for the right device to develop. He described his motivation for designing an AI-powered device with OpenAI as a way to change how people relate to the technology they use every day.
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“I don’t think we have an easy relationship with our technology at the moment,” Ive said. “Rather than seeing AI as an extension of those challenges, I see it very differently.” He added that while AI could boost productivity, the main goal isn’t efficiency. Instead, he hopes the devices can “make us happy, and fulfilled, and more peaceful, and less anxious, and less disconnected.”
Earlier reports suggest that OpenAI plans to build a device that doesn’t look like a phone or laptop. In a preview for staff, Altman hinted that the product could be aware of a user’s surroundings and daily routines. It may even be screenless, relying on cameras and microphones for input.
OpenAI has not announced a release date, but late 2026 has been rumoured as a possible target, though development has reportedly faced technical challenges.
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Ive, known for his minimalistic, metallic designs at Apple, joined OpenAI last year through a collaboration between OpenAI and his design firm, LoveFrom, called Io. OpenAI later acquired Io but said Ive would remain independent.
Earlier, the duo described their upcoming product as a device that “completely captured our imagination.” Altman called it “the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen,” while Ive said it could help humans become “our better selves.”