OpenAI and design legend Jony Ive have confirmed that their prototypes for their supposedly groundbreaking AI-powered hardware device is complete. OpenAI is now eyeing a market launch that could potentially make the prototype device be on the shelves in less than two years. The announcement, shared via a video from Emerson Collective, marks a major milestone in Silicon Valley’s race to redefine everyday gadgets beyond the smartphone era, especially in the AI era.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Jony Ive, the ex-Apple design maestro behind the iPhone and iPad, hailed the prototypes as “jaw-droppingly good.” Once released, this AI device is expected to eclipse the smartphone as a general-purpose device and change the way we deal with our lives.
OpenAI readies its AI device prototype
The project, which has been out in the wild in the last few months, comes from OpenAI’s $6.4 billion acquisition of Ive’s startup ‘io’ earlier this year. Ive, who departed Apple in 2019 to establish the design firm LoveFrom (known for collaborations with Ferrari, Airbnb, and Moncler) is spearheading the effort through his studio.
The device isn’t a built smartphone successor, but an ‘AI-first’ consumer product, possibly with no display. Altman described the design ethos as “simple and beautiful and playful,” likening an early iteration’s breakthrough to a moment of irresistible allure. “I want to pick up that thing and take a bite out of it,” he said. He contrasted its vibe with smartphone chaos, stating, “walking through Times Square and getting bumped into,” to something like “sitting in the most beautiful cabin by a lake… enjoying the peace and calm.”
Details on functionality still remain under wraps, but the hardware is positioned to compete with emerging wearables like smart glasses, pendants, or rings from rivals such as Meta and Humane. OpenAI has aggressively strengthened its team, hiring 40 new engineers last month, with many poached from Apple, all in a bid to tackle the complexities of AI integration.
Jony Ive warns about the unpredictable nature of hardware
Ive acknowledged the unpredictable nature of hardware development, warning that timelines could shift. However, both leaders expressed excitement over the prototypes’ potential to create devices “more capable than a smartphone.”
“We’re building something from scratch that addresses the hard problems of making AI devices as sticky and useful as phones,” Altman stated in the video. With prototypes in hand, OpenAI’s hardware debut could arrive by late 2027.
