Latest news with #ex-Apple
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Google CEO reacts to OpenAI's big hire: 'Jony Ive is one of a kind'
Sundar Pichai praised Jony Ive's design legacy in an interview and talked about AI's hardware impact. OpenAI acquired the ex-Apple design boss' startup, IO, for nearly $6.5 billion to work on AI products. Ive and Altman's announcement coincided with Google's I/O conference, echoing last year's news drop. OpenAI and the former iPhone designer Jony Ive's nearly $6.5 billion deal got the tech industry talking last week — and Google's CEO has now weighed in. Like many tech leaders, Google CEO Sundar Pichai is leading his company through a mission to build out its AI empire with both software and hardware products. Meanwhile, the hiring war for top talent has heated up as companies spend big to execute on their goals. OpenAI's latest move was to bring in a not-so-secret weapon whom Apple had long leaned on for his design chops: Ive. When asked about OpenAI's nearly $6.5 billion deal to acquire Ive's secretive startup, IO, and collaborate on hardware with his design collective, LoveFrom, Pichai praised the former Apple design chief. "Stepping back, Jony Ive is one of a kind," Pichai said during an interview for the "Decoder" podcast. He pointed to Ive's storied track record, which includes leading the design of iconic Apple products, such as the iMac, iPhone, and Apple Watch. While the pair have met only a few times, Pichai said, he and many others in the tech industry have long been admirers of Ive's work. "I think it's exciting," Pichai said. "There's so much innovation ahead, and I think people tend to underestimate this moment." To underscore his point, Pichai reminded listeners that Google, the most popular search engine in the world, didn't exist when the internet was invented. We're in a similar moment with artificial intelligence, the Google CEO said — except he predicted that AI would be "bigger than the internet." "There are going to be companies, products, and categories created that we aren't aware of today," he said. While Pichai said he's excited to see what Ive and OpenAI's Sam Altman have in store, he said Google would also be "doing a lot" of innovation as AI shifts the industry. That doesn't mean a mystery AI hardware product will replace the smart gadgets we use today, Pichai said. Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. While Altman and Ive haven't announced what their products will look like, consumers can expect a "family of AI products," the pair said in a video last week. Reports have indicated they're working on an AI companion device, and Altman has previously said he has "no interest in trying to compete with a smartphone." OpenAI went public about the deal on Wednesday while Google's annual I/O developer conference was in full swing — a move that didn't appear to be lost on Pichai. It's not the first time the ChatGPT maker dropped a big announcement around the same time as Google I/O. Last year, the company announced its AI model GPT-4o on May 13, a day before Google's 2024 I/O conference kicked off. "I'm looking forward to an OpenAI announcement ahead of Google I/O, the night before," Pichai said. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
22-05-2025
- Business Insider
Please, Jony Ive, I beg you not to make a voice device
I'm as curious and excited as any gadget-lover to see what newfangled AI thingamabob will come from OpenAI's $6.5 billion purchase of ex-Apple designer Jony Ive's io company. But I have one request: please, for the love of God, do not make it a voice-controlled device. Here's what we know about the possible device that Ive and Sam Altman are teasing in a video about their new collaboration. The Wall Street Journal reported that Altman told OpenAI employees a few details: The product will be capable of being fully aware of a user's surroundings and life, will be unobtrusive, able to rest in one's pocket or on one's desk, and will be a third core device a person would put on a desk after a MacBook Pro and an iPhone. The Journal earlier reported that the device won't be a phone, and that Ive and Altman's intent is to help wean users from screens. Altman said that the device isn't a pair of glasses, and that Ive had been skeptical about building something to wear on the body. Ming-Chi Kuo, a supply chain analyst who is often correct about coming hardware, says that the device may be something larger than the Humane AI Pin, and possibly worn around the neck. I am extremely nervous that this sounds like it might be some sort of voice-controlled device. Don't get me wrong: I'm an enthusiastic voice user of Alexa (at home) and Siri (in the car). I can see how convenient it is. But the idea of talking to Siri while walking down the street or at a grocery store gives me hives. The idea of saying, "Hey Meta, take a picture" to activate my Ray-Bans while at a Benson Boone concert makes me want to bite my cyanide capsule. If I ever start using Siri out loud at my desk in the office, I fully accept that HR can fire me on the spot. [Of course, voice-controlled devices are an accessibility issue for some people who are blind, have low vision, or otherwise have trouble using a screen device. I am not talking about this use, which is obviously good and a benefit. Perhaps society would be better if public use of voice devices were more normalized!] OpenAI does seem to be interested in voice. At a demonstration over a year ago, they showed new voices that could talk to you (this was the demonstration that infamously got them in trouble with Scarlett Johansson for making a voice option suspiciously close to her own). Meta has also embraced the idea of voice controls. Its stand-alone MetaAI app is meant for natural conversations between you and the app on your phone (although, at the moment, it's laggy and often leads to crosstalk). It's a long-held sci-fi dream to have a super smart AI agent you can just talk to naturally. Like Tony Stark's Jarvis, or the ScarJo voice in "Her." But even "Knight Rider" had the basic understanding that it was only OK to talk to your car in your car. Humane's AI Pin turned out to be a disaster, partly because it just didn't work very well. Let's assume whatever OpenAI/io is cooking up will be good at doing what it's supposed to. Based on what the AI Pin could do, and other examples of AI assistants or devices, I can make a few guesses of what it might be able to do: listen to your work meeting and take notes for you, give you information about something you see in front of you ("what building is this?" or "which of these two sandwiches at Pret has more protein?"), do personal assistant tasks for you ("how much time until my next meeting?" or "text Hayley and tell her I'm running late.") These all sound great and convenient! But a lot of them require something that I don't think I want to be doing: talking to my device out loud, in public, constantly. We're at a moment in society where people are already pushing the norms of what is appropriate public device use. People are watching TikTok without headphones on the subway. Texting at the movie theatre. Filming themselves at the gym. It was already weird enough when people started talking on the phone with AirPods in, making it unclear if the person headed toward you on the sidewalk was on a call or experiencing a religious revelation. I don't think we're ready for a world where people are constantly talking to their always-on, always-listening AI devices. So I eagerly await this device, which Altman says will sell 100 million units and be ready by the end of 2026. But please, please do not make me talk to it in public.
Stuff.tv
22-05-2025
- Business
- Stuff.tv
Even if OpenAI gets Jony Ive to design the next AI device, I don't think it'll be an iPhone killer
Even if you're not constantly tapped into tech or chronically online, you've probably heard by now that OpenAI and Jony Ive have joined forces to work on an AI hardware device. The firm behind ChatGPT has partnered with the legendary ex-Apple designer to work on a 'physical'family of devices' that will 'completely re-imagine what it means to use a computer.' As lovely as that sounds, it's all a bit wishy-washy. This partnership between Ive and OpenAI is certainly exciting, and I expect it to produce the first AI wearable that actually works as expected. But I don't think that it'll be an iPhone killer. All the right ingredients for killer AI hardware To recap what's happened, Sir Jony Ive is the bloke who basically made Apple devices look as good as they do. He's joining forces with Sam Altman. The AI firm is acquiring io, a startup founded by Ive, in a deal reportedly worth a tidy $6.4 billion. As part of the buyout, Ive will step into what's described as 'deep design and creative responsibilities' across OpenAI. The mission? Cook up a 'family of devices' born with AI at the core (Apple pun not intended). Altman reckons this new kit will 'completely re-imagine what it means to use a computer.' Sam & Jony introduce io — OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 21, 2025 Details are scarce, but the first gadget from this duo is set to land by late 2026. According to leaks from an internal staff call, it'll be pocket-sized, hyper-aware of its surroundings, and deliberately not a phone, glasses, or anything you wear. Apparently Jony's not a fan of tech that straps to your face. Nothing like Humane's AI Pin, then. This upcoming device will allegedly act as a 'third core device' to accompany your MacBook and iPhone. Altman further said that it's something that'll be able to sit on your desk The collaboration isn't entirely out of the blue – io was born out of a few years of collaboration between Ive and OpenAI, and OpenAI already owned a 23% stake. But now, with Ive on board properly, Altman thinks OpenAI could be working on the future. LoveFrom, Ive's post-Apple design house, will remain independent. This is what ChatGPT imagines the device might look like… I hope it's better than this All that adds up to all the right ingredients for making a bit of AI hardware that actually works. OpenAI is without a doubt at the head of the AI pack, consumer-wise. ChatGPT gets more than 5 billion monthly visits – which is one hell of a brand. And Ive brings years of history. While not the chief visionary behind Apple, his detail-obsessed approach to design has undoubtedly made Apple's biggest hits what they are today. Just having a background from Apple isn't enough to get a product into the hands of users – just look at Humane. And Ive's designs weren't always a win (remember Bendgate?). But if anyone can up with the visionary design for a brand new product category, I trust Jony Ive. And if anyone can provide the AI chops behind it, I'd put my money on OpenAI. But while they might be able to make a killer bit of AI hardware, getting people to actually use it will be hard enough. The problem? Getting people to use it Beyond the fact that the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1 didn't actually work as advertised, the biggest problem with these devices is that they're secondary. You have to carry around an extra device with functionality that you could do on your phone. Rabbit, particularly, could have been an app on your phone. Ive and OpenAI's device is peculiar, as it falls firmly in that category. It's not even a wearable, like the Humane AI Pin tried to be. Glasses or earbuds make the most sense for an AI device, but even then that's not perfect. 38% of the world doesn't wear glasses, so wearing a set would be a big adjustment. I quite like Meta's Ray-Bans, but that's because I already wear glasses. Even then, they quickly get uncomfortable because of the extra heft inside. And earbuds get uncomfortable after a while, so getting people to wear these all the time is also a big barrier. But a pocket-sized device that you need to carry or put on your desk? That has one of the biggest barriers to getting people to actually use it. You have to adopt a new device, and change your habits to start using that in place of your phone. A phone, that is, that already carries an entire ecosystem. And that's something OpenAI can't compete with. Apple, Google, and Microsoft all have their own ecosystems – Apple specifically. iPhone, AirPods, Mac, iPad, App Store, Music, and other services are hard to beat. Especially when they all tie in nicely. And especially when you can already access AI services like ChatGPT on those devices. There's no doubt in my mind that OpenAI and Ive are going to create the best bit of AI hardware we've seen to date. I'll probably buy it, and I'll probably love it. But it's going to stay firmly in the enthusiast and early adopter community, because it just can't compete with the devices we've come to rely on too much.
India Today
22-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Sam Altman believes OpenAI will sell 100 million AI devices, it is coming within a year
OpenAI on Wednesday announced its ambitious plans to launch 'a new family of products' as it acquired Jony Ive's AI company called IO for $6.5 billion. With the acquisition, OpenAI has basically hired Ive, who will be working on the company's first AI hardware. While there are no details on the form factor or other specification of this AI hardware, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is already confident that the company will be able to sell 100 million units of it. OpenAI is hoping to launch the AI device within a year. Altman told this to his employees at OpenAI as he announced his plans to acquire Ive's AI company, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. advertisementReportedly, Altman said that with this acquisition, employees at OpenAI have 'the chance to do the biggest thing we've ever done as a company here.' The OpenAI CEO also suggested that buying Ive's company could possibly add $1 trillion in the company's valuation. In a blog post on Wednesday, OpenAI confirmed its long-rumoured hardware ambitions with the acquisition of IO, a startup that was co-founded by the famous ex-Apple designer Jony Ive, who has designed the iPhone, iMac and other iconic Apple products. He will now be taking a central role in shaping OpenAI's AI hardware vision. If you are still wondering why this announcement is such a big deal, here's the thing: The ChatGPT maker has been solely focused on software so far. However, this move marks a huge shift in the AI market itself. With OpenAI launching a physical AI product, the way we interact with AI could change entirely. advertisementIn a joint blog post on OpenAI, announcing the acquisition, Altman and Ive explain why they felt the need to start a new company: 'It became clear that our ambitions to develop, engineer and manufacture a new family of products demanded an entirely new company.'OpenAI is paying $5 billion in equity for the deal. The company has already held a 23 per cent stake in Ive's AI company, which was after they had collaborated in 2023. (That is also when the rumours of Altman and Ive secretly working on an AI product first began). According to public filings, IO was incorporated in Delaware in September 2023 and registered in California in April 2025. The new IO hardware division will be led by OpenAI executive Peter Welinder, who has in the past worked on robotics and experimental products. The team, according to Altman and Ive, brings together top talent from hardware, software, science and manufacturing backgrounds, and will work closely with OpenAI's engineers and researchers in San plan to enter hardware has long been brewing. In May 2024, OpenAI started hiring research engineers to build a robotics team. There were rumours that OpenAI wants to provide the software for these robots, but the recent acquisition now makes us believe that that may not have been the only purpose. Hardware was always on Altman's mind, maybe?advertisementThe partnership between Altman and Ive has also been quietly evolving. In February 2025, Altman had hinted at plans for an 'AI-first device' built in collaboration with Ive. While the design of the AI hardware is still unknown, speculation is running high. Some believe the device could resemble wearables like the Humane AI Pin or Rabbit R1, while others suggest it could take the form of glasses, car interfaces, or even humanoid robots. Reflecting on the project, Ive said, 'I have a growing sense that everything I have learned over the last 30 years has led me to this moment I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an important collaboration.'Altman added: 'AI is an incredible technology, but great tools require work at the intersection of technology, design, and understanding people and the world. No one can do this like Jony and his team; the amount of care they put into every aspect of the process is extraordinary.'
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Famed iPhone designer and ex-Apple exec Jony Ive joins OpenAI in $6.5B deal for AI devices startup
Famed iPhone designer Jony Ive is joining OpenAI after his artificial intelligence hardware startup was acquired by the ChatGPT maker in an all-stock deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion, the company announced on Wednesday. OpenAI's acquisition of Ive's firm, called io, is the largest in the Sam Altman-led company's history. Ive is best known for closely collaborating with Apple's Steve Jobs to develop the company's most famous products. Ive, who left Apple in 2019, will 'assume deep design and creative responsibilities across OpenAI and io' as part of the deal, according to a press release. Advertisement 3 Heather Pegg Ive, left, and Jony Ive attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' exhibition on Monday, May 5, 2025, in New York. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP The partnership could put OpenAI in direct competition with Apple, which is still reliant on iPhone sales for the bulk of its revenue. San Francisco-based io had already poached a pair of key ex-Apple executives, Tang Tan, who led the teams responsible for iPhone design and Apple Watch, and Evans Hankey, who took over from Ive as Apple's top designer before leaving in 2023. Both will join Ive at OpenAI. Advertisement 'I have a growing sense that everything I have learned over the last 30 years has led me to this moment,' Ive said in a statement. 'While I am both anxious and excited about the responsibility of the substantial work ahead, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an important collaboration.' Apple shares were down more than 2% in trading Wednesday, with losses accelerating after news of the collaboration surfaced. OpenAI will pay $5 billion in stock as part of the transaction. Altman's firm already held a stake in io prior to the takeover. The deal is expected to close this summer pending regulatory approval. In an interview with Bloomberg, Ive and Altman said their first product is expected to debut in 2026. A total of 55 employees, including software developers and hardware engineers, will work for OpenAI under the io umbrella. Advertisement 3 OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is pictured. AFP via Getty Images 'AI is an incredible technology, but great tools require work at the intersection of technology, design, and understanding people and the world,' Altman said in a statement. 'No one can do this like Jony and his team; the amount of care they put into every aspect of the process is extraordinary.' Prior to the deal, Altman and Ive were already collaborating on development of an AI-centric device since 2023 – though reports have differed on whether the device is best described as a smartphone, a tablet or an entirely new format. 3 OpenAI is designing its own AI-powered device. ymgerman – Advertisement OpenAI recently secured a $300 billion valuation and is locked in heated competition with the likes of Google, Elon Musk's xAI and others to stay ahead in the race to develop advanced AI. Last month, The Information reported that OpenAI had discussed a potential 'full acquisition' of Ive's firm.
