OpenAI in Talks to Create 'iPhone of Artificial Intelligence'

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Facts

  • OpenAI is reportedly in advanced talks with former Apple designer Jony Ive and Japanese conglomerate SoftBank to collaborate on the 'iPhone of artificial intelligence.'1
  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been discussing the plan with Ive and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who would provide over $1B in funding. The goal is to create the first AI consumer device that provides a “more natural and intuitive user experience” to interact with artificial intelligence.2
  • Ive spent more than 20 years at Apple and played a large role in the design of the iPhone and iPod. His company, LoveFrom, which he founded in 2019, will design the new AI device, while chip designer Arm — which is largely owned by SoftBank — will play a key role.3
  • The project is still in its infancy, but Altman and Ive have discussed potential designs for the product. The deal reportedly hasn’t been finalized and a marketable product remains years away.3
  • There is currently a trend in Silicon Valley to find a breakthrough innovation as the smartphone market stagnates. Many companies believe AI and virtual reality headsets have the potential to be the next revolutionary technology to disrupt the market.4
  • OpenAI’s success with ChatGPT has prompted companies like Microsoft and Alphabet to enter the AI race, with large tech firms pouring billions of dollars into the development of the technology.5

Sources: 1Reuters, 2Verge, 3Forbes, 4Ft and 5Mint.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by NBC. One can never predict what the next revolutionary technology will be, or exactly how profound of an impact it will make, but a new device created by OpenAI and Jony Ive could have a monumental impact. The iPhone revolutionized the way the world used mobile phones and devices, but the market has largely plateaued as most of the world has already been exposed. OpenAI has taken the lead as the industry’s premier company.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Ars technica. While hyping up a potential device as the “smartphone of AI” is sure to provoke ideas of grandeur and wonder, this mystery device is still just an idea, and we are far away from any tangible product. At this point, there's only some vague idea of an invention. As we've learned from smartphones, tablets, and wearable tech, it also takes multiple iterations of breakthrough products to establish a reliable market for these devices. A robust market for a device like this will be a long way away.

Predictions