“When people see it, they say, ‘that’s it?… It’s so simple.”
That’s how OpenAI CEO Sam Altman describes the reaction people might have when they first see the company’s upcoming AI hardware device.
The device comes from a collaboration between OpenAI and Jony Ive, the former chief designer at Apple. While details are still sparse, it’s rumored to be “screenless” and compact enough to fit in your pocket.
Earlier this year, OpenAI acquired Ive’s design startup, io, aiming to make AI more accessible through innovative tech gadgets. Over the weekend, Altman and Ive elaborated on their vision for this device in an interview with Laurene Powell Jobs at Emerson Collective’s 9th annual Demo Day in San Francisco.
Although OpenAI is keeping tight-lipped about the specifics of the prototype, both Ive and Altman were eager to share their thoughts on its “vibe.”
Notably, Altman likened the device to the iPhone, calling Apple’s smartphone the “crowning achievement of consumer products” to date. He reflected on how he can define his life in terms of the times before and after the iPhone.
However, he expressed frustration with modern technology, stating that it’s often overwhelming with distractions. “When I use current devices or most applications, I feel like I am walking through Times Square in New York, constantly dealing with all the little indignities along the way—flashing lights in my face, people bumping into me, with noise going off. It’s unsettling,” he explained. Altman believes that the bright notifications and dopamine-driven social apps are where today’s technology often misses the mark.
“I don’t think it’s making any of our lives peaceful and calm, allowing us to focus on what really matters,” he remarked.
In contrast, the vibe of the AI device is intended to feel more like “sitting in the most beautiful cabin by a lake in the mountains, just enjoying the peace and calm,” according to Altman.
The device is designed to filter out distractions, allowing users to trust the AI to manage tasks over time. It should also be contextually aware of when to provide information and request input from the user.
“You trust it over time, and it has this incredible contextual awareness of your whole life,” Altman added.
Ive confirmed during the event that the device is expected to launch in under two years.
“I love solutions that teeter on appearing almost naive in their simplicity,” Ive shared with Powell Jobs. “And I also love incredibly intelligent, sophisticated products that you want to touch. They should feel non-intimidating and be so intuitive that you use them almost carelessly—like tools you don’t even have to think about.”
