Former Apple designer Jonathan Ive and OpenAI's Sam Altman are reportedly planning to raise $1.5 billion to develop 'AI-powered personal devices'

by • glub • and TechCrunch

Former Apple design leader Jonathan Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are seeking funding for a startup that will build 'AI-powered personal devices,' according to a report from The Information.

Jony Ive and Sam Altman's AI Device Startup in Funding Talks With Emerson, Thrive — The Information
https://www.theinformation.com/articles/jony-ive-and-sam-altmans-ai-device-startup-in-funding-talks-with-emerson-thrive

AI hardware company from Jony Ive, Sam Altman seeks $1 billion in funding | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/apples-jony-ive-and-openais-sam-altman-team-up-for-ai-device-startup/

It was reported in September 2023 that Ive and Altman were discussing developing an AI device.

OpenAI's Sam Altman and iPhone designer Jonathan Ive met to discuss new AI hardware, SoftBank's Masayoshi Son may also be involved - GIGAZINE

According to The Information, Ive and Altman are hoping to raise at least $1 billion and are in talks with Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm known for investing in OpenAI, and Emerson Collective, a venture capital firm founded by Laurene Powell Jobs .

Also, as reported in 2023, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who describes himself as a heavy ChatGPT user, is also involved in the fundraising talks, according to The Information. Son is said to be proposing the involvement of Arm, a semiconductor company under SoftBank.

Details of the device that Ive and Altman's startup is aiming to produce are still unknown, but it will look completely different from a smartphone and will be a personal AI device. Altman has also invested in Humane, an AI startup that has released the clip-type wearable AI device ' Ai Pin ,' and the device he and Ive are planning may also be a small terminal like the Ai Pin.

Meanwhile, Apple, where Ive previously worked, is reportedly set to include generative AI features that run locally on iPhones starting with iOS 18. As a result, the device Ive and Altman are aiming to build could compete directly with the iPhone.

Summary of new AI features rumored to appear in 'iOS 18' - GIGAZINE

According to The Information, there is no indication at the time of writing that OpenAI will be directly involved in the device that Ive and Altman are planning.