Prior to now 12 months, we’ve seen a slew of units primarily based round generative AI that have been claimed to be “the following massive factor.” The Humane Ai Pin and the Rabbit R1 are two vital examples. Nonetheless, each failed miserably for myriad causes, with probably the most vital motive being folks don’t appear to need devoted {hardware} for AI providers — they simply need to use their smartphones.

Regardless of this, we’ve realized at the moment that Jony Ive — the person most instantly chargeable for the designs of the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and extra Apple merchandise beneath Steve Jobs — is working with OpenAI’s Sam Altman on some type of new AI-powered {hardware}. This was revealed in a profile on Ive in The New York Instances.

Beforehand, we had heard rumors that Ive and OpenAI have been working collectively on AI {hardware} that doesn’t appear like a cellphone. It’s assumed that ChatGPT would energy this system, contemplating the ties to OpenAI. Nonetheless, that’s all we heard till at the moment’s affirmation of the partnership.

Based on the report, there are already 10 workers engaged on this venture and Ive is trying to increase enterprise capital to assist a brand new firm that might create the product. As a result of Ive’s and Altman’s respective pedigrees, it’s anticipated the corporate might increase $1 billion by the top of 2024.

Clearly, Ive is a tech trade legend, and Altman is on his method to being talked about in the identical method as Jobs, Gates, and different tech titans. Nonetheless, one can’t assist however assume that it’ll take lightning in a bottle to tear folks away from a smartphone and use AI-powered {hardware} as a substitute. As a result of if the {hardware} can’t substitute the smartphone, then folks will simply proceed to make use of the smartphone.

Humane couldn’t do it, Rabbit couldn’t do it, so time will inform if Ive and Altman can do it.