'World's greatest designer' Jony Ive joins OpenAI to 'reimagine' computers

Jony Ive, a highly regarded British designer, has recently announced that he will be joining OpenAI, a company known for its innovative artificial intelligence technologies, including the popular ChatGPT. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, expressed his excitement about this collaboration, referring to Jony as the 'greatest designer in the world'. OpenAI is acquiring Jony's startup, io, in a significant deal valued at $6. 5 billion. The partnership aims to develop a new generation of computers that leverage artificial intelligence to enhance user experience. Jony, who is celebrated for his iconic designs of Apple products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, will take on substantial design and creative responsibilities within OpenAI. The rapid advancements in AI software have been remarkable, but creating new hardware that effectively utilizes this technology has proven to be more challenging. Despite previous attempts to introduce AI-based devices that failed to capture consumer interest, Sam Altman remains optimistic about the potential success of this partnership. He stated, 'I think we have the opportunity here to kind of completely re-imagine what it means to use a computer. ' Jony shares this vision, believing that we are on the verge of a new technological era. He mentioned that the first device they are working on has already sparked their imagination, indicating that it could be a game-changer in the tech world. Sam Altman has had the chance to test a prototype of this new device and described it as 'the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen'. Jony's impressive track record in design has played a crucial role in Apple's resurgence, particularly with groundbreaking products like the iPhone and iPod. When he departed from Apple in 2019, CEO Tim Cook acknowledged Jony's significant impact on the company's success, calling him 'a singular figure in the design world'. Following his departure, Jony founded his own company, LoveFrom, which has collaborated with various brands, including Airbnb. The announcement of the merger revealed that LoveFrom had been working closely with OpenAI for two years prior to this deal. The idea for io emerged from this collaboration, as Jony and Sam recognized the need for a new company to pursue their ambitious goals of developing a new family of products. OpenAI had already held a 23% stake in the startup before the announcement, highlighting their long-standing interest in Jony's vision. Industry experts, such as Ben Wood from CCS Insight, believe that it would be unwise to underestimate Jony Ive, given his remarkable history of creating disruptive products. He noted that OpenAI would likely prefer to establish a direct relationship with its customers rather than relying on devices made by other tech giants like Apple or Google. Justin McGuirk from the UK's Design Museum emphasized that Jony brings significant design credibility to the table. He stated that if OpenAI aims to market AI-based hardware, especially in a time when skepticism exists about the necessity of such products, they must ensure that the quality is exceptional. Jony's reputation will undoubtedly help build confidence and maintain excitement around these new developments. As the tech landscape evolves, companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Google are investing in innovative products, including headsets and glasses, to capitalize on advancements in AI technology. The future of technology is bright, and many are eager to see how Jony and OpenAI will shape it.