OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT, has recruited renowned designer Jony Ive, known for his work on the iPhone, to design a cutting-edge device for interacting with generative artificial intelligence (AI).

While you can currently engage with digital assistants through various devices like glasses, speakers, and smartphones, some believe the AI era demands a new type of device entirely.

“The tools we use to access groundbreaking technology are outdated,” remarked Jony Ive upon announcing his partnership with OpenAI.

“It’s only logical to consider that something better than these old devices is possible.”

Although OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hasn’t revealed many details, he described a prototype that Ive showed him as “the most impressive technology the world has ever seen.”

Reports indicate that this new device will not feature a screen and won’t be worn like a watch or brooch.

Kyle Li, a professor at The New School, mentioned that since people haven’t fully integrated AI into their daily lives yet, there’s an opportunity for a new product specifically designed for this.

Rob Howard from Innovating with AI believes that the actual design of the device matters less than how the software is developed, emphasizing that AI innovators like OpenAI should prioritize human-friendly functionalities.

Learning from Past Failures

The tech industry has learned from the spectacular flop of the AI Pin—a square gadget styled like a badge filled with AI features but which vanished from the market less than a year post-launch due to weak sales.

Launched by startup Humane at a price of $699, the AI Pin initially generated significant buzz but was unable to sustain interest.

Now, major players like Meta and OpenAI are making significant investments in AI technology for hardware, as noted by CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood.

OpenAI recently made a multi-billion-dollar agreement to incorporate Ive’s startup.

Earlier this year, Google announced it’s developing mixed-reality glasses with AI capabilities, while Amazon is enhancing its Alexa features in Echo devices.

Meanwhile, Apple is taking a measured approach to generative AI. Although it is gradually adding these capabilities to iPhones, competitors are rushing ahead. Plans to upgrade Siri with generative AI have been postponed indefinitely.

Olivier Blanchard, director at Futurum Research, stated that Apple should have pursued creating a beloved AI interface much sooner.

Time for Discussion

Blanchard envisions a hub that allows users to access AI, likely via voice commands and independent of internet connectivity.

“Relying solely on the cloud isn’t feasible,” Blanchard said, highlighting concerns about reliability, security, cost, and environmental impact due to energy consumption.

“We need to explore local solutions since the global energy supply is insufficient for this,” he added.

Howard anticipates fierce competition to determine which will be the essential personal AI device, noting that users typically have limited willingness to wear multiple gadgets, and many may feel overwhelmed by tech options.

A fresh device tailored specifically for AI isn’t the straightforward answer, but OpenAI possesses both the financial backing and expertise to pull it off, according to Julien Codorniou, a partner at 20VC and former Facebook executive.

OpenAI recently brought on board Fidji Simo, a former Facebook executive and CEO of Instacart, to lead applications; her role will focus on addressing the hardware dilemmas.

Many believe voice will become the primary way to interact with AI.

Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai has long envisioned a future of “ambient computing,” where technology seamlessly integrates into daily life, waiting to be summoned.

“If you can speak, there’s no need to type or tap,” Blanchard pointed out.

“As generative AI becomes more sophisticated, engaging with it through conversation feels natural,” he added.

However, Wood believes that smartphones are so entrenched in daily life that they are unlikely to be replaced anytime soon.