Jony Ive And OpenAI Envision Humane AI Future
A New Vision for AI Devices
Sir Jony Ive, renowned for designing the iPhone, has announced his upcoming AI-powered device will be guided by the principle that "humanity deserves better." This comes as he acknowledges a "responsibility" for some of the adverse effects stemming from modern technology.
Ive stated that his collaboration with OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, is set to rekindle his optimism regarding technology. This is particularly relevant given the prevalent anxieties surrounding the effects of smartphones and social media.
During an interview with the Financial Times, the London-born designer remained secretive about the specifics of the device he is co-developing with OpenAI. However, he did express a sense of discomfort regarding the current human relationship with certain technology products.
He remarked, "Many of us would say we have an uneasy relationship with technology at the moment." He further elaborated that the design philosophy for the new device would stem from "a sense of 'we deserve better. Humanity deserves better.'"
Acknowledging Tech's Past and Present Impact
Ive, who previously served as Apple’s chief design officer, conveyed that he feels the weight of the negative outcomes associated with modern tech. "While some of the less positive consequences were unintentional, I still feel responsibility," he admitted. "And the manifestation of that is a determination to try and be useful."
He also noted, "If you make something new, if you innovate, there will be consequences unforeseen, and some will be wonderful and some will be harmful."
The interview also featured Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. She too acknowledged the existence of "dark uses for certain types of technology."
Powell Jobs added, "You can only look at the studies being done on teenage girls and on anxiety in young people, and the rise of mental health needs, to understand that we’ve gone sideways. Certainly, technology wasn’t designed to have that result. But that is the sideways result."
The OpenAI Partnership and a Glimpse of the Future Device
Recently, Ive sold his hardware startup, io, to OpenAI in a significant $6.4 billion deal. As part of this, he will assume creative and design leadership for the combined entities.
In a video announcement regarding the acquisition, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman lauded a prototype from Ive as "the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen."
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has speculated that the device will be screenless, wearable around the neck, and boast a design as "compact and elegant as an iPod Shuffle." Mass production is reportedly slated for 2027.
Reports from The Wall Street Journal suggest the device will possess full awareness of the user's environment and daily life. It is envisioned as a user’s third primary device, following the MacBook Pro and iPhone.
Renewed Optimism and Silicon Valley Reflections
Ive, whose tenure at Apple began in 1992, expressed that the OpenAI collaboration has restored his optimism in technology's potential, a sentiment he believes has faded in Silicon Valley.
"When I first moved here I came because it was characterised by people who genuinely saw that their purpose was in service to humanity, to inspire people and help people create," he shared. "I don’t feel that way about this place right now."
Powell Jobs, whose Emerson Collective is an investor in Ive’s LoveFrom business, refrained from commenting on whether the new OpenAI device might compete with Apple's offerings.
"I’m still very close to the leadership team in Apple," she stated. "They’re really good people and I want them to succeed also."
