At OpenAI’s DevDay conference, Jony Ive revealed that he and his team are working on between 15 and 20 possible AI device ideas under the company’s new hardware effort. After OpenAI acquired his startup io for $6.5 billion, Ive has taken a leading role in designing a “family of devices” built around AI.
Ive sharply criticized traditional smartphones and tablets — many of which he once helped design — calling current devices anxiety-inducing. He said the next generation of AI hardware should be fun, human-centered, and emotionally satisfying, striving to reshape our relationship with tech. He also emphasized the need for intuitive design that feels “obvious and inevitable,” a philosophy echoing his Apple legacy.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined the conversation, pointing to a bold ambition: he called the coming hardware line “possibly the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.” The timeline and exact form remain under wraps, but speculation and leaks hint at screenless, ambient, context-aware devices that won’t be typical wearables or phones.
In short, Ive’s new role at OpenAI may mark the next frontier for hardware design: devices that move beyond screens and attempt to integrate into everyday life more seamlessly and thoughtfully.
