Jony Ive confirms collaboration with OpenAI on AI hardware project

Jony Ive, the renowned former Apple designer, has confirmed that he is working with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on a new AI-powered hardware project.

The confirmation came in a New York Times profile detailing Ive's post-Apple ventures. Although specific details are scarce, the project is being funded by Ive and the Emerson Collective, with potential plans to raise $1 billion by the end of the year.

The venture, which currently has a team of 10, includes former Apple collaborators Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, and is led by Ive's design firm, LoveFrom. The project aims to leverage generative AI to create a new computing device that goes beyond traditional software, though the exact nature and launch timeline of the product remain unclear.