‘World’s greatest designer’ Jony Ive joins OpenAI to ‘reimagine’ computers 4 hours ago Graham Fraser Technology Reporter Sir Jony Ive, the hugely influential British designer responsible for the look of Apple’s most iconic and successful products, is joining OpenAI.
Mr Altman said he was excited to “try to create a new generation of AI-powered computers” together.
Sir Jony – who designed the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad – will “assume deep design and creative responsibilities” across the company, the two firms said in an announcement.
“The first one we’ve been working on I think has just completely captured our imagination,” said Sir Jony.
The idea for io, which Sir Jony founded last year with others, followed this partnership.
Jony Ive, the “greatest designer in the world,” has joined OpenAI to “reimagine” computers.
Four hours ago.
Fraser Graham.
Reporter on Technology.
The incredibly powerful British designer Sir Jony Ive, who created the designs of Apple’s most recognizable and popular products, is joining OpenAI.
Having the “greatest designer in the world” as a partner made boss Sam Altman “thrilled.”.
Sir Jony’s startup, io, is being acquired by OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, for $6.05 billion (£4.07 billion).
It excites him to “try to create a new generation of AI-powered computers” with his colleagues, Mr. Altman said.
The two companies announced that Sir Jony, who created the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, would “assume deep design and creative responsibilities” throughout the organization.
rethinking the machine.
Recent years have seen a rapid advancement in AI software, led by ChatGPT.
It has proven more difficult to develop new hardware based on it, though, with multiple recent attempts failing to pique consumer interest and drawing mockery from reviewers.
Nonetheless, Mr. Altman has expressed his belief that this collaboration can succeed where others have failed.
During the announcement, he stated in a video, “I think we have the opportunity here to kind of completely re-imagine what it means to use a computer.”.
The “brink of a new generation of technology” is what Sir Jony said he sees coming.
The impact of the pair’s new “family of devices” might not be far off.
According to Sir Jony, “the first one we’ve been working on I think has just completely captured our imagination,” “.
“The coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen,” according to Mr. Altman, who has already tested out a prototype of a new gadget created by Sir Jony and his team.
“A unique figure in the field of design.”.
For 27 years, Sir Jony was employed by Apple, helping to bring the company back to life with ground-breaking devices like the iPhone and iPod.
In addition, he created the iPad in 2010 and the iMac in 1998.
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, called Sir Jony “a singular figure in the design world and his role in Apple’s revival cannot be overstated” when he departed the company in 2019.
The news of his collaboration with OpenAI caused Apple’s stock to drop more than 2%.
He departed to establish LoveFrom, his own business that has collaborated with businesses like Moncler and Airbnb.
LoveFrom had been “quietly collaborating” with OpenAI for two years, according to the merger announcement.
This collaboration gave rise to the concept for io, which Sir Jony and others founded last year.
According to Sir Jony and Mr. Altman, “it became evident that our ambitions to develop, engineer, and manufacture a new family of products demanded an entirely new company.”.
Before the announcement on Wednesday, US media reported that OpenAI owned 23 percent of the start-up.
“Given his impressive track record of delivering products that disrupt a market, it would be foolish to bet against Jony Ive,” CCS Insight chief analyst Ben Wood told BBC News.
In contrast to providing services through devices manufactured or powered by Apple, Google, or other companies, he continued, “OpenAI would undoubtedly prefer to have a direct relationship with its customers.”.
A few businesses have attempted to create custom devices for the AI era, including Humane AI and Rabbit.
However, the AI Pin device, developed by Humane AI, which was founded by a former Apple executive, was criticized for its high costs, limited functionality, heat problems, and short battery life.
When it introduced ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI ignited a surge of AI investment.
In an effort to challenge well-established tech giants, it has persisted in expanding into new markets like shopping and search.
The hardware venture coincides with tech competitors like Apple, Google, and Meta investing in devices like glasses and headsets, with new prospects brought about by AI advancements.
Natalie Sherman added more reporting.
