The tech titans promise a gadget that trades the chaos of modern notifications for the peace of a lakeside cabin—and it could be here in less than two years.
- A Radical Design Philosophy:Â The device is being designed with such “naive simplicity” and tactile appeal that the creators claim users will feel an urge to “lick it or take a bite out of it.”
- From Chaos to Calm:Â Altman and Ive aim to replace the “Times Square” overstimulation of current smartphones with a user experience akin to the peace of a “cabin by a lake,” powered by deep contextual awareness.
- Coming Soon:Â While specific hardware details remain shrouded in mystery, a prototype exists, and the duo expects the product to hit the market in less than two years.
The world of consumer technology is bracing for a shake-up. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and legendary former Apple designer Jony Ive have officially forged a partnership that has led to OpenAI’s acquisition of io, Ive’s design firm. Their goal is nothing short of reimagining what it means to use a computer.
In a recent, rare joint interview with Emerson Collective founder Laurene Powell Jobs, the duo offered a glimpse into their secretive project. While they stopped short of revealing the device’s form factor, they described a product defined by joy, radical simplicity, and a “vibe” that stands in stark contrast to the intrusive nature of modern technology.
Escaping “Times Square” for a “Cabin by a Lake”
The core philosophy behind the new device is a rejection of the current state of personal computing. Sam Altman utilized a vivid metaphor to describe the modern smartphone experience, comparing it to “walking through Times Square in New York.” He described the current ecosystem as a barrage of “flashing lights,” “crowds,” and “noise”—a constant series of “little indignities” where apps and notifications compete for dopamine-driven attention.
The Altman-Ive collaboration aims to dismantle this dynamic. Their vision is a device that acts as a “sort of active participant” in the user’s life, but in a way that is proactive without being annoying. By leveraging AI that possesses “incredible contextual awareness of your whole life”—knowing what you have read, said, and thought—the device can filter out the noise.
The result, according to Altman, is a shift in atmosphere. Instead of the chaos of Times Square, using this new hardware should feel like “sitting in the most beautiful cabin by a lake and in the mountains and just sort of enjoying the peace and calm.”
The “Bite” Test: A Return to Whimsy
Jony Ive, the man responsible for the look and feel of the iPhone and iPod, is bringing a specific, tactile sensibility to this AI hardware. Ive expressed a preference for solutions that “teeter on appearing almost naive in their simplicity.” He envisions a product so sophisticated yet unintimidating that users will want to handle it “almost carelessly.”
Perhaps the most striking revelation from the interview was the metric the duo used to determine if the design was successful. Altman noted that early in the process, Ive told him, “We’ll know we’ll have the design right when you want to lick it or take a bite out of it.”
With the current prototype, Altman confirmed they have finally achieved that sensation. The device is designed to bring “whimsy” and “humor” back to personal technology—elements they feel are sorely missing in “serious times.” The goal is not just utility, but joy; as Altman put it, “We are going to make people smile.”
What Exactly Is It?
While the philosophical vision is clear, the physical nature of the device remains a subject of intense speculation. Rumors suggest the device will not be a traditional wearable like a watch or smart glasses. Instead, industry whispers describe it as:
- A “third core device” meant to complement, not necessarily replace, the MacBook and iPhone.
- A screen-free gadget, possibly the size of an iPod Shuffle or a compact power bank.
- A device equipped with microphones and cameras to facilitate its “contextual awareness.”
The Financial Times has previously reported that the team is grappling with the engineering challenge of making such a device function with current computing power constraints. However, Altman describes the current prototypes as “jaw-droppingly good.”
A Timeline for Revolution
Despite the complexity of building a new hardware paradigm from scratch, the wait may be shorter than expected. When pressed by Laurene Powell Jobs on a release window, asking if it might take five years, Ive responded, “Much sooner than that.” When asked if it would be two years, Ive clarified, “I think even less than that.”
As the project moves from the concept phase to a tangible reality, the tech world watches with bated breath. If Altman and Ive can deliver on their promise, the next era of computing won’t just be smarter—it will be peaceful, playful, and perhaps even a little bit tasty.