Latest news with #iPodShuffle
Mint
23-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
OpenAI teams with Jony Ive on AI hardware? Here's what Ming-Chi Kuo reveals about the prototype
A new wave of excitement has been stirred in the tech world following reports of a collaboration between former Apple design chief Sir Jony Ive and OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company led by Sam Altman. The partnership centres around a sleek new AI-powered device, currently in the prototype stage, with plans for mass production by 2027. According to respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who shared details in a recent post on X, the prototype bears a form factor slightly larger than Humane's Ai Pin, a compact wearable computer that struggled to gain market traction. Despite its size, the device is expected to exhibit the same minimalist elegance as Apple's iconic iPod Shuffle. Designed for ambient intelligence, the device is said to include cameras and microphones for environmental awareness. This would enable contextual interactions when worn around the neck, without the need for a built-in screen. Instead, it would leverage smartphones and PCs for display and computational power, offering a seamless, interconnected AI experience. OpenAI and Ive's design firm, known as 'io,' are reportedly aiming to make the device an everyday essential, not a pair of smart glasses, but a compact, intelligent companion that could rest on a desk or be tucked into a pocket. Sam Altman is believed to have already showcased early concepts to OpenAI staff, describing it as a potential "third core device" to accompany a laptop and smartphone. To circumvent ongoing geopolitical tensions and avoid dependency on Chinese manufacturing, assembly and distribution are expected to take place in Vietnam. This shift aligns with a broader trend among tech companies seeking to diversify their supply chains due to increasing trade restrictions and rising tariffs between China and the United States. While the project remains in early development and final specifications are yet to be confirmed, industry watchers anticipate that the collaboration between Ive's legendary design sensibilities and OpenAI's artificial intelligence capabilities could set a new standard in personal computing.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
OpenAI and Jony Ive's AI device to enter mass production in 2027: Kuo
OpenAI's much-anticipated leap into hardware, in collaboration with iconic designer Jony Ive, is taking shape, and now we have a timeline. According to renowned TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new screenless AI device is set to enter mass production in 2027, with initial products expected to roll out in 2026. Kuo revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that the prototype device is 'slightly larger than Humane's AI Pin' but retains a compact form factor reminiscent of the iPod Shuffle. Designed to be worn around the neck, the device features cameras and microphones to sense its environment and relay information contextually, a hallmark of the emerging category of ambient, screenless AI devices. Mobile Finder: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge launched in India Unlike smartphones or traditional wearables, this new device will not have a display. Instead, it will rely on connectivity to smartphones and PCs to process data and deliver output. It aims to function as an ever-present AI assistant, seamlessly interacting with the real world while offloading computing tasks to companion devices. Kuo's post comes on the heels of Bloomberg's report that OpenAI has acquired 'io,' a subsidiary of Jony Ive's design firm LoveFrom, in a deal reportedly valued at around $6.5 billion. This acquisition not only underscores OpenAI's ambition to move into hardware but also signifies a broader shift in the industry, from purely software-based AI to what is increasingly referred to as "physical AI." According to Kuo, OpenAI plans to manufacture the device outside China, with Vietnam a likely choice. This move aligns with growing tech sector trends to diversify supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainties, something Apple has also pursued in recent years. If successful, the device could kickstart a new wave of AI hardware, personal, invisible, and intuitive, challenging the smartphone's dominance and redefining how we interact with technology.
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
OpenAI Confirms Compact AI Device Designed by Jony Ive, Mass Production Set for 2027
In a bold leap from software to hardware, OpenAI has officially confirmed its plans to launch its first-ever AI device — a screen less, iPod Shuffle-sized wearable — by 2027. Designed in collaboration with renowned former Apple designer Jony Ive, this compact device aims to redefine how we interact with artificial intelligence in our daily lives. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, confirmed the project in an announcement earlier this week. While speculation had been swirling for months, the confirmation now sheds light on the company's broader ambitions. 'It became clear that our ambitions to develop, engineer and manufacture a new family of products demanded an entirely new company,' Altman and Ive shared in a joint blog post following the announcement of OpenAI's $6.5 billion acquisition of Ive's design firm, LoveFrom IO. My industry research indicates the following regarding the new AI hardware device from Jony Ive's collaboration with OpenAI: 1. Mass production is expected to start in 2027. 2. Assembly and shipping will occur outside China to reduce geopolitical risks, with Vietnam currently the… Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has offered some early insights into the project, suggesting that the device will be compact and lightweight — slightly larger than the Humane AIPin — and heavily inspired by the minimalist design language of the classic iPod Shuffle. 'It will have cameras and microphones for environmental detection, with no display functionality,' Kuo stated in a post on X (formerlyTwitter). The absence of a screen sets it apart from other AI devices, signaling a shift toward more ambient, always-on interaction. The wearable will rely on its on board cameras and microphones to perceive the world around it, with potential for it to be worn like a pendant. The device will connect wirelessly to smart phones or computers to utilize their processing and display features, allowing for seamless integration with existing technology ecosystems. Interestingly, OpenAI plans to sidestep geopolitical tensions by choosing Vietnam over China as the manufacturing hub. 'Assembly and shipping will occur outside China to reduce geopolitical risks, with Vietnam currently the likely assemblyl ocation,' Kuo noted. Altman reportedly has ambitious goals for this product. According to The WallStreet Journal, he told employees that this project could be 'the biggest thing we've ever done as a company,' even going so far as to suggest it might add $1 trillion to OpenAI's valuation. He also believes the company could sell100 million units of the device — a bold prediction that underscores the scale of OpenAI's vision. This move marks a significant pivot for OpenAI, which until now has focused exclusively on AI software products like ChatGPT. With the creation of the IO division, now led by OpenAI executive Peter Welinder, the company is diving headfirst into physical tech. The new team will blend hardware, software, and manufacturing expertise to bring the AI device to life. Kuo also speculates that the timing of the announcement could be strategic. Coming shortly after Google's high-profile I/O 2025 event, the reveal may be intended to recenter the tech world's attention on OpenAI. 'OpenAI is leveraging a new narrative to redirect attention,' Kuo commented. This isn't Altman and Ive's first collaboration. The two began working together in2023 when OpenAI acquired a 23% stake in IO, setting the foundation for their current partnership. Rumors of an AI-first device began circulating then and have only intensified over time, especially after Altman hinted at creating a ground breaking product to revolutionize human-AI interaction. While many details remain under wraps, OpenAI's foray into hardware has already generated significant buzz. With its compact design, screenless interface, and powerful AI integration, this upcoming device may mark a major turning point not just for OpenAI but for the future of wearable technology.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
OpenAI's first AI hardware will be as tiny as iPod Shuffle, will enter mass production in 2027: Report
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman topped the news charts this week with his announcement of entering the hardware world. He was rumoured to be secretly working on something like that, but in an announcement on Wednesday, he confirmed that OpenAI is working on an AI device. This ambitious new project is born from OpenAI's $6.5 billion acquisition of Ive's company IO. But the big question since the announcement has been: What will this AI device look like? There have been a number of speculations – some suggest it could be an AI smart glass, while some believe it could be similar to the Humane AI Pin. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is leaning towards the latter. advertisementKuo estimates that the OpenAI hardware will sport a compact form factor, which will be reminiscent of the iconic iPod Shuffle, but will be slightly larger than the Humane AI Pin. While the design and specs could still evolve, the early prototype suggests a strong focus on elegance and minimalism, which are also trademarks of Ive's past work at says the device won't be assembled in China. Instead, OpenAI is looking at Vietnam as the likely production base to sidestep potential geopolitical complications. 'Assembly and shipping will occur outside China to reduce geopolitical risks, with Vietnam currently the likely assembly location,' he wrote in a post on X. advertisement The device is also expected to ditch a display entirely. Instead, it will rely on built-in cameras and microphones to detect and interpret its surroundings. 'It will have cameras and microphones for environmental detection, with no display functionality,' Kuo wrote in the post. One use case in mind: wearing it around the neck, in a nod to more ambient, ever-present interaction with AI. It will connect to smartphones and PCs to tap into their computing and display OpenAI has yet to reveal what the final product will look like, this new information offers a sneak peek into the direction Sam Altman and Jony Ive are taking. But one thing's for sure: The move signals a dramatic shift for OpenAI, which has until now been focused entirely on software like ChatGPT. But with this push into physical products, the company hopes to redefine how we interact with artificial announcement of the IO acquisition earlier this week confirmed long-rumoured hardware ambitions at OpenAI. 'It became clear that our ambitions to develop, engineer and manufacture a new family of products demanded an entirely new company,' Altman and Ive said in a joint blog also believes that the timing of this announcement is also strategic. Kuo suggests it could be a way for OpenAI to steer attention away from Google's recent I/O conference, where the tech giant showed off its deep ecosystem and AI integration. 'OpenAI is leveraging a new narrative to redirect attention,' Kuo appears to have high hopes. According to The Wall Street Journal, he told employees that this could be 'the biggest thing we've ever done as a company' — and even claimed it might add $1 trillion to OpenAI's valuation. He also reportedly said that OpenAI could sell 100 million units of the AI new IO division will be led by OpenAI executive Peter Welinder, who has worked on experimental products and robotics in the past. The team includes talent from a mix of backgrounds across hardware, software, and also isn't the first time Altman and Ive have worked together. The two collaborated in 2023, when OpenAI acquired a 23 per cent stake in IO. Those early rumours of an 'AI-first device' began around then, and gained momentum earlier this year when Altman hinted at a new kind of product that would change how people interact with AI.
Phone Arena
22-05-2025
- Phone Arena
Forget screens: more details emerge on the mysterious Jony Ive + OpenAI device
Concept image of what this Jony Ive + OpenAI collab AI device might look like. | Image credit — @BenGeskin (X) Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known industry analyst, has shared early details about the mysterious AI hardware product being developed by OpenAI in collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. While the announcement of this partnership has already stirred curiosity, Kuo's latest insights paint a clearer picture of the device and raise some familiar to Kuo's post on X, the product is still in its early stages, with mass production not expected to begin until 2027. The current prototype is reportedly a compact, screenless gadget with a form factor that's slightly larger than the Humane AI Pin. He compares its size and elegance to the iPod Shuffle, and mentions one proposed use case involves wearing it around the neck . It will rely on built-in cameras and microphones to detect its surroundings, and will offload computing and display tasks to a connected smartphone or PC. Assembly is likely to take place in Vietnam, which Kuo says is meant to reduce geopolitical risks tied to China-based manufacturing. This description is a bit at odds with the Wall Street Journal report that this device wouldn't be "something to wear on the body" in any form. However, I guess that depends on whether having something hanging from your neck can be considered as "not on your body." Video credit — OpenAI What will it look like, though? An unofficial concept design based on Kuo's description is already circulating, offering a first visual impression of what this device could look like. I'm including that image just to give a better sense of the device's potential design direction, but keep in mind that this is just one artist's interpretation and by no means an official take. With Jony Ive leading the effort, expectations are understandably high that the hardware will push boundaries in a way earlier attempts did not. Mind-Chi Kuo on Jony Ive and Sam Altman's AI device:• The current prototype is slightly larger than the AI Pin, with a form factor as compact and elegant as an iPod Shuffle.• One of the intended use cases is wearing the device around the neck. • It will have cameras and… — Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) May 22, 2025 That said, it's already very evident that the public is uncertain about where this is going. Devices like the AI Pin and Rabbit R1 have already tried to bring physical AI into our daily lives but failed to find a broad audience. They often felt more like experiments than essential tools, raising the question of whether people really want standalone AI gadgets. Even so, the push toward physical AI is gaining momentum. Kuo suggests that OpenAI's public reveal of the project may have been strategically timed to shift attention away from Google I/O, where Google showcased deep AI integration across its products. It's a reminder that OpenAI still has work to do in building a hardware ecosystem. The idea of a minimalist, AI-powered companion is exciting on paper. I think that its potential to succeed, where others fell short, might depend on whether Jony Ive's design vision can turn curiosity into real demand.
