New idea: “Artificial intelligence iPhone”

New idea: “Artificial intelligence iPhone”

San Franciscok September 30, 2023

Former Apple designer Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are collaborating to potentially develop an AI-powered smartphone, backed by an investment of over $1 billion from Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, according to the Financial Times.

As Gizmodo reports, an AI-focused smartphone could help alleviate consumer fatigue caused by new phones with only minor upgrades in recent years. 2023 is expected to be the weakest year for global smartphone shipments in a decade after U.S. smartphone shipments plunged 24% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2023, according to preliminary figures from Counterpoint Research. An OpenAI phone could help pique consumer interest and generate excitement for a new hardware offering.

Altman reportedly wants Ive’s design agency LoveFrom to develop the “iPhone of artificial intelligence.” It would be OpenAI’s first consumer device, with the aim of creating “a more natural and intuitive user experience for interacting with AI,” reported FT Although no deal has been confirmed, talks are said to be “serious.”

Softbank’s role: Sources said Son, Altman and Ive are considering forming a joint company that would draw on the talent and technology of their respective organizations. SoftBank is reportedly committing over $1 billion to the project, with Son actively participating in the discussions. He also suggested a key role for Arm, the chip designer in which SoftBank owns a 90% stake.

Nevertheless, the project is still in its early stages and there are numerous ideas for the device on the table. Reports suggest that a resulting smartphone would likely take years to come to market.

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