Artificial intelligence: this ambitious project from Jony Ive which could shake Apple, his ex-employer

Jony Ive and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, are collaborating on the creation of an entirely new device that allows humans to interact more naturally with artificial intelligence. If carried out successfully, this project could seriously shake up Apple.

The English designer, who played an essential role in the development of most of the Apple brand’s flagship products including the iPhone, left the company in 2019. Although he has since founded his own studio, LoveForm , Jony Ive remains an iconic Apple character. He was nevertheless critical of the impact of smartphones, and more particularly screens, on human beings.

SoftBank also in the game

This new project would offer a different experience, not relying on a screen. Sam Altman, meanwhile, is in discussions with LoveForm to design his company’s first device, dubbed ” the iPhone of artificial intelligence “.

With Jony Ive, he aims to create a product that offers “ more natural and intuitive user experience » to interact and communicate with artificial intelligence. In particular, the two men want to draw inspiration from how the touch screen of the original iPhone helped revolutionize human interaction with the mobile internet.

Masayoshi Son, head of Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, is also in the mix. Revived thanks to the successful IPO of Arm, of which it still holds 90% of the shares, the group wishes to restore its health by investing massively in the AI ​​sector. He proposed funding the initiative to the tune of a billion dollars, emphasizing the central role that Arm could play in its development. For the moment, no agreement has been reached between the different parties, who are still in the initial phase of the project.

The successor to the smartphone?

Many players in Silicon Valley are wondering about the product that will replace the smartphone. While smart speakers and mixed reality headsets are potential contenders, they still have a huge way to go to oust it. A device based on artificial intelligence, by taking advantage of its immense capabilities, could actually shake up the offer.

Last week, OpenAI announced improvements to ChatGPT, including the ability to control the application by voice and browse the web. A clue about the company’s future product?

Source : The Financial Times