OpenAI to launch an iPhone rival? Former Apple top boss working with Sam Altman on secret project

Rumours of a collaboration between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple designer Jony Ive have been circulating for some time, but details, especially if there is any truth to it, have remained scarce — until now.

A recent profile in The New York Times has shed light on this secretive project, confirming that Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom, is at the forefront of creating a new AI-powered product in partnership with Altman.

Jony Ive, renowned for his role in shaping iconic Apple products like the iPhone, is leading the design efforts on this new venture. The project also includes contributions from Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, both of whom were key figures in Apple’s design team.

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The trio is reportedly working with a small team of about 10 employees, based in a San Francisco office building that Ive has acquired as part of a cluster of properties on a single city block.

Despite the confirmation of this collaboration, details about the actual product remain elusive. The report mentions that the team is developing a device that aims to offer a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than current smartphones, particularly the iPhone. However, specifics about how this AI product will function or what form it will take have not been disclosed.

The project marks a significant departure from the usual outputs of LoveFrom, which has so far focused on non-hardware ventures, such as creating a custom typeface and designing a $60,000 turntable.

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The move into AI and potential hardware represents a bold new direction for Ive and his team, although there is no confirmed timeline for when this mysterious product will be unveiled.

This collaboration between Ive and Altman has piqued the interest of the tech world, given their respective reputations in design and artificial intelligence.

With Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, both experienced in developing groundbreaking technology at Apple, the project holds the potential to introduce a new kind of computing device that could challenge the dominance of current smartphones.

While most of the details remain unknown, the involvement of these industry heavyweights suggests that the final product could be something truly innovative, possibly setting a new standard in how we interact with technology. As the project develops, the anticipation grows, with many eager to see how this collaboration between one of the leading minds in AI and one of the most influential designers of the modern era will unfold.