Jony Ive is working on an AI hardware project with OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman
TL;DR
- The Apple’s former head of design, and Altman plan to raise $1 billion for the project by the end of the year.
- Ive’s company, LoveFrom, leads the design, with a team including key ex-iPhone designers.
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Jony Ive, former Apple design chief, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, are collaborating on a new AI hardware project. Ive confirmed his involvement following a report by The New York Times, which detailed the partnership. Axios also reported that Altman said he’s working on the project with Ive.
Their partnership reportedly began in 2022. By early 2023, the startup had already secured office space and assembled a team of 10 employees.
The project’s funding and design team
Laurene Powell Jobs’ Emerson Collective reportedly backs the project. It plans to raise $1 billion in funding by the end of the year.
Investors such as SoftBank's Masayoshi Son have been rumored to be involved, but these reports remain unconfirmed.
Ive's design firm, LoveFrom, is leading the design efforts. Its leadership includes Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, key designers from the original iPhone team.
Industrial designer Marc Newson, who is also collaborating with Ive on the project, said that the teams are still in the early stages of determining the product's direction.