Open AI and former Apple designer Jony Ive plans to secure up to $1 billion in funding from Softbank for creating a new AI device. The AI Device Project has been termed the iPhone of artificial intelligence and Japanese conglomerate Softbank has already backed the project.

Open AI’s Sam Altman will collaborate with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom for the development of the first-ever OpenAI consumer device. The two companies have been reported to have held talks at Ive’s San Francisco studio. The goal is to create a new consumer product focused on OpenAI’s technology. The new device will deliver a more intuitive and natural user experience for AI engagements. The plan resonates with the Apple iPhone’s trajectory and its revolutionary impact on mobile internet for the mass market.

The AI Device Project is in the early stages of its design but various ideas are now under consideration. One of the important details is that ARM will have a significant contribution to the product. The chip designer is one of Softbank’s current investments. The collaborations will hopefully see the establishment of a company that pulls the resources of the three companies together. There are no formal agreements yet although talks are progressing smoothly.

The LoveFrom partnership with OpenAI marks a significant shift by Jony Ive who was part of the team that designed the first iPhone. The move marks a shift by the designer towards creating computer interactions that are less dependent on screens. The project may herald a new phase in consumer electronics. The rise of virtual reality products has not provided a dent yet in the widespread impact of smartphones. The new project however comes with innovation and a revolutionary bent. This potentially could evolve into a consumer device that can rival smartphones. The finer details of the OpenAI-LoveFrom-Softbank project will be known soon.

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