Jony Ive, the renowned designer of Apple's iconic products, is teaming up with Sam Altman, the visionary leader of OpenAI, and Tang Tan, a former Apple executive with expertise in hardware engineering, to embark on a new artificial intelligence hardware project.
Tang Tan, having held the position of Apple's vice president of iPhone and watch product design, is reportedly leaving the tech giant to join Ive and Altman in this venture. While the project is still in its early stages, it has already garnered attention for bringing together top talent in the industry.
Ive, known for his pivotal role in creating groundbreaking devices like the iPhone and iPad during his time at Apple, left the company in 2019 to establish his design firm, LoveFrom. Now, he aims to apply his design expertise to the realm of AI hardware, collaborating with Altman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, an organization focused on artificial general intelligence.
Altman is set to provide the software foundation for the new AI devices, while Ive will oversee the design and aesthetics. Tang Tan, joining LoveFrom, will lead the hardware engineering aspect of the project.
Challenges for Apple and Growth for LoveFrom
Tan's departure from Apple marks another loss for the company, as it follows a trend of design talent leaving since Ive's exit. Reportedly, about 14 members of Ive's former team have left Apple since 2019, leaving only a handful of the original designers. In contrast, LoveFrom has expanded to include over 20 former Apple employees and has secured partnerships with prestigious clients such as Airbnb, Ferrari, and Moncler. The consulting deal between LoveFrom and Apple concluded in 2022 after three years.
Project Details and Potential Impact
Details about the new AI hardware project remain limited, but early reports suggest a focus on developing a set of devices for home use. The collaboration between Ive and Altman came to light when discussions about an AI device surfaced, with Softbank's Masayoshi Son also reportedly involved.
Altman, in a statement, emphasized that the project is not aimed at competing with smartphones, particularly the iPhone, which he considers the most popular device. Despite this, speculation persists about the potential impact of the AI hardware venture on Apple's dominance in the consumer tech industry, especially given the buzz surrounding OpenAI's ChatGPT. As the project progresses, more insights are expected to emerge, shedding light on the direction and innovations this collaboration may bring to the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence hardware.
