Here’s what Jony Ive and Sam Altman revealed about their secret AI hardware project at OpenAI Dev Day.
In a packed room at Fort Mason, after a whirlwind speech of product announcements, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke with Sir Jony Ive, the legendary designer behind Apple’s most iconic products. The conversation, held exclusively for the 1,500 developers in attendance and not part of the public livestream, offered the clearest insight yet into the philosophy and ambition behind their secret collaboration to build a new system. "family" of AI-powered devices.
The partnership, solidified by OpenAI staggering $6.5 billion acquisition from Ive’s hardware startup Io in May, has been the subject of intense speculation. While the concrete details of the product remained under wraps, the discussion moved away from specifications and toward a profound, almost therapeutic mission: repairing our broken relationship with technology.
For nearly 45 minutes, Ive, in his characteristic reflective cadence, articulated a vision that feels like both a continuation and a repentance for his life’s work. The man who designed the iPhone, a device that arguably defined the modern era of personal computing, is now seeking to cure the very anxieties he helped create.
Jony Ive’s post-Apple mission, clarified by ChatGPT
The collaboration, Ive explained, lasted for years, but it was the launch of ChatGPT that provided a sudden and clarifying purpose for his post-Apple design collective, LoveOf.
"With the launch of ChatGPT, we felt like our goal for the past six years had become clear:" I said it. "We were starting to develop ideas for an interface based on the capabilities of the technology that these guys were developing… I’ve never encountered in my career anything remotely resembling the accessibility, the capability that we’re now starting to experience."
This capability, he argued, requires a fundamental rethinking of the devices we use, which he described as "legacy products" from a bygone era. The fundamental motivation, he stressed, is not about corporate agendas but a sense of duty to humanity.
"The reason we do this is because we love our species and we want to be helpful." I said it. "We believe that humanity deserves much better than what it generally receives."
An ‘obscene euphemism’: Jony Ive’s quest to cure our technological anxiety
The most striking theme of the conversation was Ive’s frank critique of the current state of technology – the very ecosystem he helped build. He described our current dynamic with our devices as deeply flawed, a problem for which he now sees AI as the solution, not an extension.
"I don’t think we have an easy relationship with our technology at the moment," I started, before adding, "When I say we have an uncomfortable relationship with our technology, I mean, that’s the most obscene understatement."
Instead of chasing productivity, the main goal of this new family of devices is emotional well-being. This is a radical departure from the efficiency-obsessed philosophy that dominates Silicon Valley.
When asked about his ambitions for the new devices, I prioritized emotional well-being over simple productivity. "I know I should care about productivity, and I do," he said, but his ultimate goal is that the tools "make us happy and fulfilled, more peaceful, less anxious and less disconnected."
He presented this as an opportunity to reject the current, strained relationship people have with their technology. "We have a chance to… completely change the situation we find ourselves in," » he declared. "We do not accept that this should be the norm."
Buried in the Glow: Why “15 to 20 Compelling Ideas” Became Ive’s Biggest Challenge
Even if the vision is clear, the path is strewn with pitfalls. Reports have surfaced on technical obstacles and philosophical debates delay the project. I have expressed this struggle myself, admitting that the pace of progress in AI is overwhelming. Rapid progress has generated a torrent of possibilities, making the crucial act of concentration incredibly difficult.
"The momentum is so extraordinary… that it has led us to generate 15-20 really compelling product ideas. And the challenge is trying to concentrate," I confessed."I was good at it, and I lost a little confidence, because the choices are, it would be easy if you really knew there were three good ones… it’s just not like that."
This admission provides context to reports that the team is grappling with unresolved issues with the device. "personality" and IT infrastructure. The goal, according to one source, is to create an AI companion that is "accessible but not intrusive," avoid the pitfalls of "weird AI girlfriend."
Beyond the Screen: Ive’s Design Philosophy for an ‘Inevitable’ AI Device
Although no device was shown, the conversation and past reports offer clues. The project involves a "device family," not a single gadget. This will likely mark a break from the screen-centric world we live in. Reports suggest a "palm-sized device without screen" which relies on cameras and microphones to perceive its environment.
I argued that it would be "absurd" assume that today’s breathtaking AI technology should be delivered via "products that are decades old." The goal is to create something that feels entirely new, but completely natural.
"It should seem inevitable. This should seem obvious, as if there were no other rational solution to the problem," I said, echoing a design philosophy often attributed to his time with Steve Jobs.
He also spoke about bringing a sense of joy and whimsy back to technology, pushing back against a culture that he feels has become too serious.
"When it comes to the interfaces we design, if we can’t smile honestly, if this is just another kind of deeply serious exclusivity, I think it wouldn’t be doing us all a great disservice." he remarked.
The conversation ended without a product reveal, leaving the audience with a philosophical rather than a technical plan. The central narrative is clear: Jony Ivethe designer who put a screen in every pocket, is now betting on a screenless future, powered by the tremendous intelligence of OpenAI, to make us all a little less anxious and a little more human.
