For years, everyday interaction with technology has had as its epicenter the smartphone and its ubiquitous screens. However, in the midst of the artificial intelligence boom, an alliance between Sam Altman, director of OpenAI, and Jonathan Ive, legendary Apple designer, promises to radically change the current paradigm. Their goal: to develop a device completely different from anything known, which could end up marking the future of our digital daily lives.
What until recently were rumors and leaks has been confirmed after the acquisition of io, Ive's hardware company, by OpenAI, in an operation valued at around 6.500 millionSince then, anticipation and secrecy have grown in equal measure, while the tech industry and users alike have been asking: What is really known about the device Sam Altman and Jony Ive are working on? Could it be the spiritual successor to the iPhone? An invisible AI assistant? Here's the most detailed and up-to-date roundup of everything known about this mysterious project.
What is the joint project between Altman and Ive?
Since OpenAI acquired io, the startup founded by Ive himself along with a team of ex-Apple people with extensive experience in consumer hardware, the stated goal has been Design a family of devices that take the AI experience to the next level. Altman has been clear: Today's technology deserves better than having to interact with AI through a laptop or mobile phone.Ive, for his part, has expressed his belief that all the learnings from three decades at Apple lead to this moment.
The core of the mission is to create a new product category, which not only complements the mobile or laptop, but acts as a “third great axis” in digital life, according to Altman himself. The io team, made up of around 55 engineers, designers, and manufacturing experts, mostly from Apple, has joined forces with OpenAI to develop this innovative hardware.
The merger between the two teams suggests that the project goes far beyond a simple gadget or accessory. The ambition is clear: transform how people interact with artificial intelligence and the digital environment itself.
What technical and design features have been leaked?
Although the secrecy is at its highest, various leaks and statements allow us to outline some of the key aspects of the device, codenamed "io":
- It will not be a smartphone or a classic wearable.: It's ruled out that it's a mobile phone, smart glasses, a watch, or headphones. It's also not a typical wearable, although it can be worn around the neck as a pendant, in a pocket, or on a table.
- No screen of any kind: One of the main disruptive features will be the elimination of the screen. The device will rely on the visual “disappearance” and will completely dispense with a traditional visual interface, which represents a clear challenge to the current Apple or Google model based on touch screens.
- Built-in cameras and microphones: It will be equipped with several high-quality microphones and cameras that will allow it to understand the user's physical and social context. This will provide it with a “environmental awareness” to anticipate the user's needs in each situation.
- Sleek and compact design: According to the opinions of the renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the device is reminiscent of the iPod Shuffle—also designed by Ive—but somewhat larger than the current Humane AI Pin, with which it shares certain aesthetic ideas, although overcoming its limitations.
- Constant connectivity: Its operation depends on the connection to the mobile or computer, using these platforms for complex processing and visualization when necessary.
The device, according to various sources, would be designed to act as a proactive AI assistant, continuously analyzing the environment and user behavior.Interaction will be primarily voice-based, with suggestions and direct responses, moving away from visual notifications or traditional apps.
What differentiates this device from previous attempts?
In recent years, several AI hardware projects have attempted to revolutionize everyday interaction with technology., particularly the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1. However, both products have failed to offer a truly useful, comfortable, and natural experience for users.
Jony Ive has been particularly critical of these attempts, noting that they were "poor products, without truly new ideas that would justify their existence"OpenAI and Ive's commitment is to avoid these errors by providing:
- A discreet and elegant design: The goal is for the user not to feel like a cyborg or have to wear flashy devices. Their appearance will be simple, almost invisible and much more integrated with daily life.
- natural interaction: Prioritized voice and gestures as means of communication, so you don't have to constantly manipulate the device or keep an eye on it.
- Privacy and trust: One of the biggest challenges will be gaining the trust of users with a device “always on” and equipped with cameras and microphones. Altman and Ive are aware of the importance of designing systems that guarantee privacy and data protection from the outset.
The vision goes far beyond the specific experiment: They are looking for an invisible AI assistant, useful and truly adapted to modern life., without falling into absurd dependencies on other devices or environments.
What will the user experience be like?
The revolutionary approach is that this «AI companion» It will not be based on traditional screens, menus or apps:
Instead of looking and touching, the idea is for users to communicate and interact with the device through voice, natural gestures, and a constant understanding of the environmental context.The device will "listen" and "observe," learning from each situation to anticipate what the user needs, whether it's information, help, or assistance with everyday tasks.
Possible use cases being considered, based on leaks and statements from those involved:
- Proactive personal assistant: Reminders, suggestions, agenda organization, answers to questions, etc.
- Connecting and controlling other devices: It will take advantage of the processing power of your mobile phone or computer and integrate with other systems.
- Interaction with the physical environment: The device will be able to identify objects, faces, places and situations, offering help or relevant information in each context, and even acting in the background.
- Privacy and information management: The user will have options to control what is recorded, when the device is activated, and how their data is processed.
This whole approach seeks to “free” the user from dependence on screens., returning the spotlight to a more human, spontaneous and, above all, less intrusive experience.
Production, distribution and launch challenges
One of the most relevant facts is that the Altman and Ive device will not be manufactured in China, but possibly in Vietnam or countries with lower geopolitical risk., according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Mass production is expected to start in 2027; OpenAI's stated goal is to reach 100 million units distributed faster than any other product in the history of consumer technology.
This level of ambition involves overcoming multiple challenges:
- Convince the marketRecent cases such as the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 have shown the public's skepticism towards very novel proposals that are not very useful in practice.
- Balance between innovation and utilityThe device must be revolutionary enough to appeal to technology enthusiasts, yet simple and intuitive enough to win over the average user.
- Ensuring privacy and trust: The promise of a «Physical AI» that is always with you raises questions about how far people will accept living with devices that continuously record audio and video.
- Avoid over-dependence on other devices: Make it work well on its own, but take advantage of the current device ecosystem if the user wants it to.
The launch will seek not only the acceptance of early adopters, but also to achieve massive and sustained adoption. OpenAI relies on the reputations of Altman and Ive, along with the experience of his team, serve to avoid the mistakes of previous attempts and inspire confidence in the general public.
What impact could this have on the tech industry and Apple?
The move by OpenAI and Ive has generated immediate reactions in the industry.Apple, for example, saw its stock price fall after the announcement of the transaction. Although Altman has said they don't expect the iPhone to disappear anytime soon, they do see their product as the beginning of a new category that could eventually redefine human interaction with technology.
Google and Meta, for their part, have introduced AI integrations into products like glasses or assistants, but OpenAI and Ive's venture stands out for its boldness in dispensing with the screen and putting the entire experience in the hands—or rather, in the daily life—of the user.AI companion", which still has no definitive commercial name, could set a new standard for what smart devices should look like in the era of general artificial intelligence.
The fact that the io team is made up almost entirely of Apple veterans reinforces the sense of continuity—and some direct competition—with Apple's product philosophy and execution. Ive remains at the helm of LoveFrom as an external consultant, ensuring that the innovative and aesthetic hallmark remains intact.
The industry is watching with caution and expectation, aware that a win here could lay the groundwork for the next technological revolution..
When will this device be available for purchase or inspection?
Although many of the technical details remain unknown, Sam Altman and Jony Ive have announced that they hope to show concrete progress during 2026, the year in which the official announcement of the first commercial version is expected. The design and development process, as they have acknowledged in several interviews, is completely confidential and subject to change. However, initial prototypes already exist, and the team is working intensively on fine-tuning both the hardware and the integration with AI developed by OpenAI, such as GPT-4 and future generations.
Pricing, distribution, and final capacities will likely be revealed in the months leading up to the start of mass production in 2027. For now, the only certainty is that this collaboration is destined to mark a before and after in the way people understand and use artificial intelligence technology.
The launch of this innovative device seeks to transform interaction with technology and open a new era in which artificial intelligence is an integral and discreet part of everyday life.The tech community is paying attention, as the next big revolution in how we connect with the digital world could be brewing.