What could the man behind ChatGPT and DALL-E and the designer of Apple products for nearly 30 years be up to? Here are all the rumors around this secret project that is panicking tech.
What are Sam Altman and Jony Ive up to? The two emblematic figures of tech are teaming up for a secret project that is causing excitement in Silicon Valley and beyond. On one side, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the man behind groundbreaking innovations like ChatGPT and DALL-E which democratized theartificial intelligence generative. On the other, Jonathan Ive (Jony for short), legendary designer who shaped Apple’s aesthetic for nearly 30 years and creator of iconic products such as the iMac, the iPod and theiPhone.
©Antonello Marangi
This unexpected collaboration between the AI visionary and the master of industrial design would, it seems, aim to develop a new type of electronic device integrating generative AI. The ambitious objective would be to create “a less socially disruptive computing experience than the iPhone”. It would therefore potentially be an alternative to the smartphone, offering the advantages of AI in a redesigned design.
An elite team in the shadows
The project is being led by LoveFrom, the design company founded by Jony Ive after he left Apple in 2019. A core team of around ten people is currently working on the project in an office in San Francisco. A minimalist approach that is reminiscent of Ive’s working methods at Apple, where design was at the heart of the innovation process.
According to the Quartz media, this shock team includes former Apple designers who worked on iconic products, such as the iPhone. The secrecy surrounding the project is such that the first drafts would have been presented on simple sheets of paper and cardboard boxes.
1 billion dollars for a new “revolution”?
The scale of the project is reflected in its financial ambitions. Altman and Ive are reportedly looking to raise up to $1 billion by the end of the year to fund the development of their mysterious device. This colossal sum demonstrates the scale of their ambitions and the confidence of investors in this amazing duo.
Potential investors include prestigious names such as Thrive Capital, Emerson Collective (founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Steve Jobs) and SoftBank. The interest generated by this project demonstrates Altman and Ive’s reputation and influence in the technology industry. And confirms that the AI bubble is indeed fully inflated.
A revolutionary device in the making
We already know that the mystery product would exploit the capabilities of generative AI, OpenAI’s area of expertise, while benefiting from Jony Ive’s design know-how. Marc Newson, co-founder of LoveFrom, said that “what the product would be and when it would launch were still being determined”. We still remain in the dark about both the object itself and its destination and uses. Whatever happens, he will have more traditional but AI-enhanced objects in front of him. Let’s see what the iPhone and Apple Intelligence combo will produce.
Although the precise details of the product remain under wraps, a few things have been discussed. This could be a device that does not rely on a traditional screen. The goal would be to offer a more natural and less intrusive experience than current smartphones. Are we going to see the emergence of a new range of tech objects revolutionizing our interactions like the iPhone did in its time, which gave us direct access to the Internet without going through cumbersome WAP portals?
Likewise, the development of applications has changed the situation. In 2025 or 2026 (no date has yet been given), will we see a new paradigm shift of this type? Considering the investments and the elite team mobilized, it’s everything we could wish for. Hoping that this new gadget doesn’t flop like the AI Pin or the Rabbit R1 recently.
A major challenge in a competitive market
The challenge for Sam Altman and Jony Ive will be to stand out in this emerging market and offer real innovation that meets user needs. For now, this “less socially disruptive computing experience than the iPhone” is full of promise, but also very vaporous.
While we wait for more details on this mysterious project, one thing is certain: the combination of Altman’s AI expertise and Jony Ive’s design genius promises to give rise to a product – or an ecosystem of products – that could redefine our interaction with technology in the years to come.
