OpenAI teaming up with Jony Ive to build the “iPhone of AI:” Report

According to the report which cited sources familiar with the plan, Ive’s company LoveFrom, has been working with OpenAI’s chief Sam Altman to brainstorm ideas for the design and functionality of the device. Ive founded the company after leaving Apple in 2019.

The venture would also involve SoftBank, the Japanese conglomerate that owns a 90 per cent stake in Arm, the chip designer. Son has offered to invest more than $1 billion in the project and provide Arm’s technology for the device.

The discussions are said to be “serious”, but no deal has been agreed yet. It could take several months before a formal announcement is made, and any resulting hardware product is likely to take years to develop.

Ive is known for his role in creating the first iPhone, which was launched in 2007 and became a global phenomenon. The smartphone market, however, has reached a saturation point, and many tech companies have been looking for the next big thing in consumer electronics. Potential candidates include virtual reality headsets but none of them have matched the popularity of the smartphone.

OpenAI hopes to change that with its AI technology, which has been making waves in the industry. This week, it announced new features for its chatbot, ChatGPT, such as voice control, image analysis, and web browsing.