Jony Ive, the renowned designer behind iconic Apple products like the iPhone and iPad, recently confirmed his involvement in a mysterious new project with OpenAI. The news sparked an industry-wide debate about the project's nature and potential impact on our lives.
Little has been confirmed about the project's aim, funding, or team so far, but here is what we know.
Jony Ive’s Comeback

Five years after his departure from Apple, designer Jony Ive has re-entered the tech news spotlight to design a highly confidential project with OpenAI. Ive revolutionized Apple's product aesthetic during his tenure at the company.
Jony Ive's firm, LoveFrom, is at the center of this new collaboration, and the project could mark Ive's return to designing world-shaping technology. His reputation for elegant, user-friendly products fuels excitement among tech enthusiasts about what this device could look like. The expectations are high as he has previously created iconic products like the iPhone, iMac, and Apple Watch.
A Billion-Dollar Initiative
The new venture has attracted substantial investments from Silicon Valley's most prominent players. In addition to funding from Apple, reports suggest that Emerson Collective, the social impact organization led by Laurene Powell Jobs, is also financially backing the initiative.
The project has already raised millions in private funding, and considering its hype and impact, it could attract up to $1 billion in start-up capital by the end of the year.
The Team Behind the Scenes

According to The NY Times, LoveFrom's team includes top-tier designers and former Apple engineers. In addition to Ive and Altman, this reportedly includes Tang Tan, who led the iPhone product development, Evans Hankey, Jony Ive's successor at Apple, and ten others.
The team is said to be working out of San Francisco's historic Jackson Square, in a secret space that Ive has quietly been developing into a hub for creative innovation.
What We Know About the Product
There is little information about the product, but insiders suggest it may involve advanced generative AI and a new computing interface. The goal appears to be creating a device that offers a less intrusive and more intuitive digital experience than the current smartphone-dominated landscape.
Early rumors indicate that this new product may not be a traditional device like a phone or computer but an entirely new piece of hardware that allows users to interact directly with AI.