OpenAI and Jony Ive team up to create “a new generation of AI-powered computers”

Back in late 2023, reports began circulating that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had teamed up with legendary Apple designer Jony Ive and Laurene Powell Jobs on a stealth AI hardware project. Now, five months later, we’re finally getting a clearer picture of what’s brewing.

Today, Altman confirmed the collaboration with a post on X:

“Thrilled to be partnering with Jony, imo the greatest designer in the world. excited to try to create a new generation of AI-powered computers.”

thrilled to be partnering with jony, imo the greatest designer in the world.

excited to try to create a new generation of AI-powered computers. pic.twitter.com/IPZBNrz1jQ

— Sam Altman (@sama) May 21, 2025

OpenAI Wants to Put a Jony Ive-Designed AI Device in Your Pocket

Altman’s post has stirred up plenty of buzz. After all, this is a heavyweight match-up: Altman, one of the most prominent figures in artificial intelligence, working alongside the designer behind the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. And the project they’re working on could shake up how we interact with technology.

“I think we have the opportunity here to completely reimagine what it means to use a computer,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a video hyping up the announcement.

No prototypes were revealed, but Altman shared that io’s goal is to build “a family of devices” that make better use of AI.

“The first one we’ve been working on…has just completely captured our imagination,” Ive said. Altman has been testing the prototype at home and says, “I’ve been able to live with it and I think it’s the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen.”

Sam & Jony introduce io pic.twitter.com/ej5K59kJq3

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 21, 2025

What We Know So Far

The venture, operating under the name io Products, is reportedly focused on building AI-first personal devices—something that challenges what we currently think of as a computer. Altman and Ive aren’t just tweaking what already exists; they’re aiming to rethink it from the ground up.

The idea started taking shape after Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky introduced the two. They began meeting regularly, discussing how generative AI could reshape user interaction, without repeating the mistakes of devices that have led to screen addiction. Ive was quoted as saying they wanted something “less socially disruptive than the iPhone.”

Not Another Smartphone

Details are still under wraps, but one thing seems clear: this isn’t going to be another phone. Sources say the team is experimenting with screenless AI devices—possibly voice-first gadgets that feel more like a personal assistant than a pocket computer. Think less iPhone, more Her.

This tracks with Altman’s other investments in screen-free AI interfaces like the Humane AI Pin. It also fits Ive’s signature style: sleek, minimalist, and focused on reducing friction between user and device.

There’s no working prototype yet, but early concepts point to a product that helps people get things done without needing to stare at a screen all day.

Why This Matters

In April 2025, The Information reported that OpenAI was exploring a potential acquisition of io Products for $500 million. Whether it’s a buyout or a deeper partnership, the move signals OpenAI’s push beyond software. Between this and its work on AI server chips and robotics, Altman’s ambitions clearly include building out a full-stack ecosystem—hardware included.

The timing isn’t accidental. Meta is working on AI wearables, Apple is reworking Siri, and Google continues pushing its Gemini model into hardware. Everyone wants a foothold in whatever comes after the smartphone.

Altman’s already laid the groundwork with ChatGPT’s voice mode, which went live in 2024. With hardware in the mix, OpenAI could become a direct competitor in consumer tech, not just an infrastructure provider behind the scenes.

Still a Long Road Ahead

There’s no shortage of skepticism. Early AI hardware like the Humane Pin and Rabbit R1 launched with a lot of hype and not a lot of follow-through. Reviews cited clunky features, half-baked execution, and unclear use cases.

A post on MacRumors summed up the hesitation with a jab at Ive’s minimalist tendencies, joking the final product might just be “a glass slab with no screen or buttons.” AppleInsider went further, suggesting the whole project could turn out to be smoke and mirrors in a crowded AI gadget market.

To succeed, Altman and Ive will need more than novelty. They’ll need to make something that actually earns a spot in people’s daily lives.

If It Works, It Could Change Everything

That said, if they do pull it off, this could be one of the most significant leaps forward in computing in over a decade. CNET speculated that OpenAI’s hardware play could tighten its grip across platforms, moving the AI conversation from apps into physical objects we use every day.

With Ive’s ability to craft iconic devices and Altman’s obsession with AI’s potential, this partnership could produce something that redefines how we think about personal tech. Some insiders believe they’re aiming to replace the smartphone altogether. That’s a bold goal, but these are bold players.

SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son has reportedly considered a $1 billion investment, which shows just how seriously this venture is being taken behind closed doors.

What’s Next?

It’s still early. No device has been unveiled. No launch dates have been mentioned. But what’s happening here is worth paying attention to. A new class of AI-native hardware is coming—and Altman and Ive want to lead the charge.

If nothing else, their collaboration signals a shift: the next wave of tech may be defined not by apps, but by how hardware itself thinks, listens, and responds.