Yup, Jony Ive is working on an AI device startup with OpenAI

Jony Ive, the renowned former Apple designer, has confirmed that he is collaborating with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on a new AI hardware project. This confirmation came during a profile of Ive in The New York Times, nearly a year after initial reports of their possible partnership surfaced. Ive and Altman connected through Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, and the project is currently funded by Ive and the Emerson Collective, Laurene Powell Jobs' organization. According to The Times, the venture may raise $1 billion in funding by the end of 2024, though there was no mention of previous speculation about SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son’s involvement.

Although there are few details on the nature of the device, Ive's company, LoveFrom, is leading the design process. The small team of 10 employees includes key former collaborators such as Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, who both worked with Ive on the iPhone. The team is currently working out of a 32,000-square-foot office in San Francisco, part of a $90 million real estate investment that Ive has accumulated on a single city block.

The exact nature of the device remains unclear, but it’s said to be heavily influenced by the capabilities of generative AI. Ive and Altman are reportedly exploring how AI could surpass traditional software by handling more complex user requests, potentially reshaping how we interact with computing devices. However, Marc Newson, Ive’s LoveFrom cofounder, stated that both the product’s details and its launch timeline are still being determined.

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Meta has a major opportunity to win the AI hardware race

In a year when many AI gadgets flopped, Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have emerged as a surprising success. Unlike other AI wearables like the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1, which failed to deliver on their futuristic promises, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have resonated with consumers. Their success lies in the combination of stylish design and practical features. At $299, they offer a more affordable option compared to other high-end AI gadgets like Apple’s Vision Pro, and the glasses’ audio, video, and call quality make them suitable for everyday use, especially for content creators on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

The AI capabilities on the Ray-Ban Meta glasses are not perfect, but they’re functional and integrated naturally. Features like object identification, translating menus, and video calling are handy, although the AI can be finicky at times. Unlike other AI wearables, the Ray-Ban glasses work well even when the AI falls short, which sets them apart. Meta has positioned these glasses as more than just a novelty—they’re practical enough for everyday use now, which gives them a real shot at figuring out AI wearables.

Going forward, Meta has the opportunity to build on this momentum. With a new partnership with EssilorLuxxotica extending to 2030, the company can continue improving the hardware with better batteries and lighter designs. However, if Meta wants to truly dominate the AI hardware race, it will need to improve the AI from being neat party tricks to indispensable features that make people want to wear smart glasses all day. Meta’s upcoming Connect event will be a key moment to show if it can maintain its lead and push AI hardware forward.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirms that Level-3 Agents are coming soon

“The shift to level 2 took time, but it accelerates the development of level 3.This will enable impactful agent-based experiences that will greatly impact technology advancements in technology“

In a recent conversation between T-Mobile and OpenAI, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, discussed the exciting advancements of the new "o1 models" and how they represent a significant leap in AI capabilities. Unlike previous iterations, which excelled at basic pattern recognition and simple tasks, the o1 models focus on more advanced reasoning. These models have the potential to tackle complex problems in areas like programming, mathematics, and science, offering solutions that were previously unattainable. Altman highlighted that this new wave of models, while still in its early stages, will improve rapidly, opening doors to numerous use cases beyond traditional chat interfaces.

The conversation then shifted to T-Mobile's collaboration with OpenAI to revolutionize customer service through AI-powered personalization. By using AI models to analyze vast data sets in real-time, the companies are working to create a more seamless and efficient customer experience. The goal is to significantly reduce the number of customer service calls and proactively solve issues by predicting and preventing problems before they arise. Altman and T-Mobile expressed excitement about how this partnership could set a new standard for customer service in the telecom industry.

Moreover, Altman emphasized the importance of data privacy, assuring that OpenAI does not use customer data from APIs to train its models, ensuring T-Mobile's data remains secure. He also mentioned OpenAI's broader vision of using AI in other industries like healthcare and education, where it could provide personalized solutions, and even accelerate scientific discoveries, contributing to significant advancements in these fields. The collaboration with T-Mobile marks a key milestone in OpenAI's mission to bring transformative AI technology to everyday use, benefiting both businesses and consumers.

• T-Mobile to Supply OpenAI With Customer Data to Boost User Experience

• Some favorite posts about OpenAI o1, as selected by researchers who worked on the model

• Try out OpenAI o1 in GitHub Copilot and Models

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• Amazon launches a powerful new generative AI-based selling assistant codenamed Project Amelia

• The new Siri setup in iOS 18.1 Beta looks so satisfying to watch.

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