Jony Ive's next big thing

Details emerge about the "AI companion" he's building for OpenAI.

After yesterday’s shocking announcement of Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s $6.5 billion bromance, new details emerged about the “AI companion” devices that OpenAI plans to launch.

Some info leaked out of Altman’s meeting with employees, during which he described the devices as OpenAI’s “chance to do the biggest thing we’ve ever done as a company.”

Former Apple design chief Ive called the project “a new design movement” away from the screens we know and love on our iPhones and Macs. The device would work alongside those devices and be “fully aware of a user’s surroundings and life,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

Other details come from respected TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (aka the best Apple analyst on the planet).

OpenAI’s “current prototype is slightly larger than the [Humane] Ai Pin, with a form factor as compact and elegant as an iPod Shuffle,” he wrote Thursday. He said the device would utilize cameras and microphones, but no screen.

Read up on everything we know about OpenAI’s mysterious device in today’s lead story.

Also in today’s newsletter:

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

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One more thing ...

The difference that Jony [Ive] has made, not only at Apple but in the world, is huge. He is a wickedly intelligent person in all ways. He understands business concepts, marketing concepts. He picks stuff up just like that, click. He understands what we do at our core better than anyone. If I had a spiritual partner at Apple, it’s Jony.

— Steve Jobs, 2011.

Today’s poll

Would you use an AI device that knows everything about you?

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Results from yesterday’s poll: Will Jony Ive kill the iPhone?

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