OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, has partnered with legendary designer Jony Ive, formerly of Apple, to develop a groundbreaking AI-powered device, possibly called io. Announced in late May 2025, this collaboration merges OpenAI’s cutting-edge AI capabilities with Ive’s design expertise, promising a “family of devices” that will redefine how we interact with technology now, and perhaps in our afterlife as we explain in this article.

With a target launch in 2026, the AI-powered device is poised to usher in a new era of consumer tech. However, it also raises questions about data privacy and the potential to create AI personalities after a user’s death.

Here’s everything we know so far about this ambitious project and its far-reaching implications. In the below video Jony Ive and OpenAI’s Sam Altman discuss what OpenAI’s AI-powered device is all about.

OpenAI’s AI-Powered Device – A New Kind of Device

Details about OpenAI’s new io device remain scarce, but early reports paint a picture of a revolutionary gadget. Described as pocket-sized, screenless, and contextually aware, the device is designed to integrate seamlessly into users’ lives. Unlike smartphones or wearables, it won’t compete with existing devices but will instead act as a “third core device” alongside laptops and phones, potentially resting unobtrusively in a pocket or on a desk. According to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the current prototype is slightly larger than Humane’s AI Pin and resembles the compact elegance of an iPod Shuffle, with one proposed use case involving wearing it around the neck.

The AI-powered device will leverage cameras and microphones to gather real-time data from its surroundings, enabling it to respond to voice commands with advanced natural language processing powered by OpenAI’s latest AI models, possibly an evolution of ChatGPT or the o1-preview model. By connecting to smartphones and laptops, it will offload computing tasks to these devices, creating a symbiotic relationship that enhances functionality without requiring a screen. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, has called a prototype he tested “the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen,” hinting at its potential to transform human-AI interaction.

Jony Ive, the designer behind Apple’s iPod, iPhone, and iPad, is leading the design through his firm LoveFrom and the recently acquired startup he founded, io, purchased by OpenAI for $6.5 billion in an all-stock deal. This acquisition brings 55 former io employees, including ex-Apple designers like Evans Hankey and Tang Tan, into OpenAI’s fold, merging hardware expertise with AI innovation. Ive has described the project as “a new design movement,” emphasizing a minimalist, screen-free approach that prioritizes natural, hands-free engagement.

OpenAI’s ambitions are nothing less than bold: the company aims to ship 100 million units “faster than any company has ever shipped 100 million of something new before,” with a tentative launch window in the second half of 2026 and mass production potentially scaling up by 2027.

However, challenges loom, including establishing a robust supply chain outside China – possibly in Vietnam – to mitigate geopolitical risks.

Why OpenAI Is Venturing Into Hardware

OpenAI’s move into hardware is caused by several strategic motivations:

1. Advancing AI Integration

The AI-powered device aims to make AI more intuitive and accessible by embedding it into everyday life. Unlike the cumbersome process of accessing ChatGPT via apps or browsers, this gadget promises real-time, context-aware interactions. By learning from its environment and user habits, it could offer personalized responses, streamlining tasks and boosting productivity.

For example, it might anticipate needs based on location or schedule, acting as a proactive assistant rather than a reactive tool.

2. Breaking Free from Screen Dependency

Altman and Ive have expressed concerns about the societal impact of screen-based devices, with Ive noting their role in increasing anxiety and distraction. A screenless device could reduce “screen addiction,” offering a less intrusive way to engage with technology. This aligns with Ive’s vision of moving beyond “legacy products” like smartphones, which he believes are outdated conduits for advanced AI capabilities.

Good to know, OpenAI and Apple initially planned to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18, with an announcement made at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024. However, Apple later withdrew from a $6.5 billion funding round for OpenAI, as reported by Reuters in September 2024. Despite this, Apple proceeded with the integration of ChatGPT into its devices, albeit with a more cautious approach. The rollout of Apple Intelligence features, including ChatGPT integration, faced delays and limited availability, leading to adjustments in Apple’s promotional strategies. For instance, Apple removed AI references from iPhone 16 billboards following setbacks with Siri’s AI capabilities.

3. Establishing a Hardware Foothold

By developing proprietary hardware, OpenAI reduces its reliance on third-party platforms like iOS and Android, which dominate the interface layer of computing. This move positions OpenAI to control its ecosystem, much like Apple, and compete directly with tech giants like Google and Amazon, who are also exploring physical AI. The timing of the announcement, coinciding with Google’s I/O conference, suggests a strategic play to shift market focus.

4. Creating a New Revenue Stream

OpenAI faces financial pressures, with projections of $44 billion in losses before profitability in 2029. Acquiring io and launching a hardware line could generate significant revenue, with Altman estimating the deal could add $1 trillion in value to OpenAI. There’s even speculation that the AI-powered device could be offered free to ChatGPT Plus subscribers to drive adoption, a rather bold strategy to capture market share.

How It Compares to Other AI Devices

The AI hardware space is nascent but crowded with failed experiments like Humane’s AI Pin and Rabbit’s R1, both criticized for poor functionality. Ive himself dismissed these as “very poor products,” suggesting OpenAI’s device will aim for higher standards.

Unlike the wearable AI Pin, OpenAI’s device won’t be pinned to clothing or worn on the body, and it’s not designed to replace smartphones but to complement them. Its screenless, context-aware design sets it apart from devices like the Apple Vision Pro or Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, focusing on ambient integration rather than immersive displays.

The Data Privacy Conundrum

An AI-powered device that continuously collects data via cameras and microphones raises important privacy concerns. Its ability to be “fully aware” of a user’s surroundings and life implies extensive data collection, potentially including audio, visual, and contextual information.

While on-device processing could keep sensitive data local, reducing cloud-based risks, the always-on nature of the AI-powered device could still feel invasive. OpenAI will need transparent policies and robust security measures to earn user trust, especially given past criticisms of AI companies’ data practices.

Could The AI-Powered Device Create an AI Personality After Death?

The AI-powered device’s capacity to gather detailed, real-time data about a user’s life – habits, preferences, voice patterns, and environmental interactions – opens a speculative but fascinating question: could this data be used to create an AI personality that emulates a person after their death?

While no concrete plans for such a feature have been announced, the technological and ethical implications are worth exploring.

The Data Foundation

OpenAI’s AI-powered device will collect a rich dataset, potentially including:

  • Voice Interactions: Capturing tone, speech patterns, and conversational habits.
  • Environmental Data: Visual and auditory inputs from cameras and microphones, providing context about a user’s daily life, locations, and routines.
  • Behavioral Patterns: Insights from connected AI-powered devices, such as calendar events, messages, or app usage, revealing preferences and decision-making processes.

This data could theoretically be aggregated into a comprehensive profile, serving as a digital footprint of a person’s life. Advanced AI models, like those OpenAI is developing, could analyze this data to generate a conversational agent that mimics the user’s personality, speech, and even decision-making style.

Technological Feasibility

Creating an AI personality from posthumous data is already within the realm of possibility. Existing AI models can generate realistic text, voices, and even video avatars based on limited inputs. For example, companies like DeepBrain AI and Synthesia create synthetic media from voice and video samples. OpenAI’s AI-powered device, with its continuous data collection, could provide a far richer dataset, enabling a more accurate emulation. By training a model on a user’s unique data, it could replicate their conversational quirks, humor, or worldview, creating a digital “ghost” that feels eerily lifelike.

Ethical and Social Implications

However, this possibility raises profound ethical questions:

  • Consent: Would users explicitly consent to their data being used to create a posthumous AI? Without clear opt-in policies, this could violate autonomy.
  • Ownership: Who controls the AI personality after death? Family members, OpenAI, or a third party? Legal frameworks for digital legacies are still underdeveloped.
  • Emotional Impact: For loved ones, interacting with an AI that mimics a deceased person could be comforting or deeply unsettling, potentially complicating grief.
  • Authenticity: An AI personality, no matter how accurate, is a simulation, not the person. Misrepresenting it as such could lead to ethical misuse, such as manipulating others or perpetuating falsehoods.

Potential Applications

If implemented responsibly, a posthumous AI could have meaningful uses:

  • Preserving Memories: Families could interact with a digital version of a loved one to recall stories or advice, akin to a living memoir.
  • Legacy Projects: Artists or writers could “continue” their work through an AI trained on their style, though this risks diluting authenticity.
  • Historical Preservation: Public figures’ data could be used to create educational tools, allowing future generations to “converse” with historical personas.

Challenges and Risks

The risks are significant. Data security is paramount – leaked or misused data could lead to identity theft or exploitation. Moreover, creating an AI personality without clear guidelines could lead to “digital necromancy,” where simulations are used for profit or manipulation. OpenAI would need to navigate these concerns carefully, balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.

A Hypothetical Scenario

Imagine a user, Jane, who uses OpenAI’s AI-powered device for years. It records her voice, daily routines, and interactions, building a detailed profile. After Jane’s passing, her family could, with consent, use this data to create an AI that speaks in her voice, shares her humor, and recalls her favorite stories. This could provide closure or a way to preserve her legacy. However, without strict safeguards, a malicious actor could exploit Jane’s digital profile, creating ethical and emotional dilemmas.

AI-Powered Device Represents A New Era for Smart Devices

OpenAI’s AI-powered device could redefine consumer tech by introducing a new category of AI-driven hardware. Its screenless, context-aware design challenges the dominance of smartphones and laptops, offering a less intrusive alternative. If successful, it could shift user behavior, reducing screen time and fostering more natural interactions. Integration with existing devices could also streamline tasks, making AI a seamless part of daily life.

However, the AI-powered device’s success hinges on overcoming significant hurdles:

  • Market Adoption: Previous AI devices like the Humane AI Pin failed to resonate with consumers. OpenAI must prove its AI-powered device offers unique value.
  • Supply Chain: Scaling to 100 million units requires a robust supply chain, an area where OpenAI lacks Apple’s expertise.
  • Privacy: Transparent data policies and on-device processing will be critical to gaining trust.

The collaboration between Altman and Ive, described as a “bromance” in some reports, combines Silicon Valley’s boldest AI vision with design that has historically captivated consumers. Whether it becomes the “iPhone moment” for AI hardware remains to be seen.


I have a background in environmental science and journalism. For WINSS I write articles on climate change, circular economy, and green innovations. When I am not writing, I enjoy hiking in the Black Forest and experimenting with plant-based recipes.