[TRAILBLAZING] Sam Altman and Jony Ive Unveil Visionary AI Device That Could Redefine Computing

In what could be the most visionary technology announcement of the year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and world-renowned designer Sir Jony Ive (KBE) have pulled back the curtain on their secret collaboration—a new class of AI-powered devices poised to reinvent how humans interact with computers.

Vision meets execution: The partnership between Jony Ive and Sam Altman merges cutting-edge AI with revolutionary design. Together, they aim to build the next generation of intelligent devices. I Illustrator: ASK

The revelation comes as part of a cinematic announcement posted today across the brand’s social media handles, confirming that OpenAI is merging with a stealth hardware startup called “io”, co-founded by Ive along with legendary ex-Apple engineers Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, and Tang Tan.

The new venture promises to create AI-native hardware that transcends the limitations of today's legacy devices.

“We’re sitting at the beginning of what I believe will be the greatest technological revolution of our lifetimes,” Altman declared.

Altman, the architect behind ChatGPT, and Ive, the visionary behind the iPhone and MacBook Pro, said their partnership was born out of a shared sense of urgency—and optimism.

While OpenAI developed the intelligence, Ive's firm LoveFrom, described as "the densest collection of talent" Altman has ever seen, provided the imagination to manifest it into form.

Their aim: to develop a family of intelligent devices that seamlessly integrate with OpenAI’s models, enabling users to create, build, and solve problems without the friction of today’s tools.

“I think this technology deserves something much better,” Altman said, referring to how we still rely on outdated input methods like laptops and keyboards to interact with advanced AI systems.

Ive, who once redefined industrial design at Apple, admitted that the project has “captured our imagination.”

He even went as far as saying that the team’s latest prototype is the “best work we’ve ever done”—a remarkable statement considering his design legacy includes the iPhone.

Altman, now living with one of the prototypes, called it “the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.”

From the Cloud to the Collective Good

The motivation behind this moonshot is not merely innovation for innovation’s sake. Both leaders expressed a desire to democratize AI—to make it accessible to everyone, not just those who understand how to use today’s complex systems.

“I don’t want it to be just the tiny percentage of the population that figures out how to use bad tools. I want anybody to say, ‘Hey, I have this idea. Make it happen,’” said Ive.

The merger between OpenAI and io also signals a future where hardware and AI are designed as one—not as separate layers of user experience, but as a singular, intuitive interface.

“We’re literally on the brink of a new generation of technology that can make us our better selves,” Altman said toward the close of the video.

What This Means for the World—and for the Philippines

As the Philippines continues its own digital transformation journey, the implications of this announcement are massive.

From education and healthcare to creative industries and government services, the arrival of an AI-native device ecosystem could redefine how individuals and institutions innovate, communicate, and grow.

It also reinforces the need for local ecosystems to be AI-ready—not just in software, but in design, data ethics, and human-centric hardware integration.

Philippine startups, educators, and policy makers alike may now be called to envision how AI hardware could empower grassroots development, rural entrepreneurship, and tech-based social good.

The Big Picture

This merger marks more than just the convergence of two giants. It’s a clarion call for a new era—where artificial intelligence is not confined to the cloud or screen but becomes a tangible, daily companion in the human experience.

In the spirit of Silicon Valley’s ethos and with a nod to the creative chaos of San Francisco—where the project was born—this bold leap is equal parts moonshot and masterstroke.