In a packed theater at Fort Mason, after delivering a stormy keynote for product announcements, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sat down with Sir Jony Ive, the legendary designer behind Apple’s most iconic products. The conversation, which was conducted exclusively for the 1,500 developers in attendance and was not part of the public livestream, provided the clearest glimpse yet into the philosophy and ambition behind their secret collaboration to build a new community. "family" Devices that operate with artificial intelligence.
The partnership is powered by OpenAI A staggering $6.5 billion acquisition The launch of Ive’s Io devices in May has been the subject of intense speculation. While concrete product details remained under wraps, the discussion pivoted away from specs and toward a profound, almost therapeutic mission: repairing our broken relationship with technology.
For about 45 minutes, Yves, in his characteristic measured cadence, articulates a vision that feels like a continuation and repentance of his life’s work. The man who designed the iPhone, a device that arguably defined the modern era of personal computing, is now seeking to address the very fears he helped create.
Jony Ive’s post-Apple mission, explained by ChatGPT
Ive explained that the collaboration took years, but it was the launch of ChatGPT that provided a surprising and clear purpose for his post-Apple design group. Love from.
"With the launch of ChatGPT, our goal for the past six years seemed clear," I said. "We started to develop some ideas for an interface based on the affordability of the technology that these guys were developing… Never in my career have I encountered anything as mysterious as affordability, like the affordability that we’re now starting to feel."
He said that this ability requires a radical rethinking of the devices we use, which he described as "Heritage products" From a bygone era. He stressed that the primary motivation is not related to corporate agendas, but rather a sense of duty towards humanity.
"The reason we do this is because we love our species and want to be useful," I said. "We believe that humanity deserves much better than humanity in general is given."
‘Outrageously underrated’: Jony Ive’s quest to cure our tech anxiety
The most striking topic of the conversation was Ive’s frank criticism of the current state of technology — the very ecosystem he was instrumental in building. He described our current dynamic with our devices as deeply flawed, a problem for which he now sees AI as the solution rather than an extension.
"I don’t think we have an easy relationship with our technology right now," I began, before adding, "When I said that we have an uncomfortable relationship with our technology, I meant that that was the most outrageous understatement."
Rather than pursuing productivity, the primary goal of this new family of devices is emotional well-being. It’s a radical departure from the efficiency-obsessed ethos that dominates Silicon Valley.
When asked about his ambitions for new devices, he prioritized emotional well-being over simple productivity. "I know I should care about productivity, and I do," But his ultimate goal is the tools, he said "Make us happy and fulfilled, more peaceful, less anxious, and less disconnected."
He framed it as an opportunity to reject the current fraught relationship that people have with their technology. "We have the opportunity to completely change the situation in which we find ourselves," He said. "We do not accept this to be the norm."
Buried in Brilliance: Why “15 to 20 Compelling Ideas” Became Eve’s Biggest Challenge
Although the vision is clear, the path is fraught with challenges. Reports have emerged about Technical obstacles and philosophical debates Project delay. He gave voice to this struggle, acknowledging that the pace of AI advances was exponential. Rapid progress has generated a torrent of possibilities, making decisive concentration extremely difficult.
"The momentum was absolutely phenomenal…it led us to generate 15-20 really compelling product ideas. The challenge is trying to focus," I confessed."I was good at that, and I lost some confidence, because the choices would be easy if you really knew there were three good choices…it’s not."
This admission provides context to reports that the team is experiencing unresolved issues around the device "a personality" and computing infrastructure. The goal, according to one source, is to create an AI-powered companion "Accessible but not intrusive," Avoid pitfalls a "Strange AI girlfriend."
Beyond the Screen: Eve’s design philosophy for the “inevitable” AI device.
Although no devices have emerged, previous conversation and reports provide clues. The project includes a "Device family," Not one tool. This is likely to be a departure from the screen-centric world in which we live. Reports indicate a "A palm-sized device without a screen" Which relies on cameras and microphones to perceive its environment.
I argued that it would be so "silly" Let’s say today’s amazing AI technology has to be delivered through… "Products that are decades old." The goal is to create something that feels completely new, yet completely natural.
"It should seem inevitable. It should seem obvious, as if there is no other rational solution to the problem," That said, echoing the design philosophy often attributed to his time with Steve Jobs.
He also spoke about bringing a sense of joy and whimsy back to technology, and overcoming a culture that he feels has become too dangerous.
"In terms of the facades that we design, if we can’t smile genuinely, if it’s just another very dangerous kind of exclusive thing, I think that will do us all a great disservice," He pointed out.
The conversation concluded without revealing the product, leaving the audience with a philosophical rather than technical outline. The central narrative is clear: Jony Ivethe designer who put a screen in every pocket, is now betting on a screen-less future, powered by the immense intelligence of OpenAI, to make us all a little less anxious and a little more human.
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