Apple’s former chief design officer, Jony Ive, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are allegedly exploring alternatives to collaborate on constructing an unspecified synthetic intelligence “{hardware} gadget,” in line with two sources talking to The Information.
This wouldn’t be the primary time that Altman has partnered with a former Apple designer on new {hardware}. Thomas Meyerhoffer — who was Ive’s first rent at Apple and labored alongside him on tasks just like the iMac — designed the spherical retina-scanning Orb for Altman’s Worldcoin crypto venture. Orb was developed by Instruments for Humanity, an organization that Altman co-founded in 2019 and serves as the corporate’s chairman.
Altman can be one of many largest traders in Humane — a {hardware} and software program startup firm co-founded by ex-Apple staff — which is creating a wearable AI gadget that’s designed to switch smartphones. Humane is collaborating with OpenAI to combine the AI firm’s expertise into the gadget.
There’s presently no phrase on what the gadget can be, or what function it serves.
Hypothesis apart, there’s presently no phrase on what the gadget can be, or what function it serves. The Info claims that Ive and Altman, who’re mates, have been discussing what “new {hardware} for the AI age may seem like.” It’s presently unclear if the gadget can be created by OpenAI, Instruments for Humanity, or a third-party producer, or certainly if the duo will determine to construct the gadget in any respect.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son can be reportedly concerned within the discussions with Altman and Ive. As soon as the richest man on the earth, Son has invested over $140 billion into AI-related startups over the previous couple of years and beforehand stated he would make SoftBank “the funding firm for the AI revolution.” It isn’t but clear if he’ll stay concerned with Ive and Altman’s plans.
Replace, September twenty seventh, 6.10AM ET: Added further info relating to Sam Altman’s involvement with Humane.