TECH START-UPS
OpenAI is planning to develop a dedicated AI-powered device designed to replace smartphones. CEO Sam Altman confirmed in an interview on Sunday that the company is working on AI-specific hardware that could redefine how we interact with technology.
“OpenAI is looking to develop an artificial intelligence-specific device — a move that could bring the largest disruption to tech hardware since the 2007 launch of the iPhone,” Nikkei Asia reported on Monday.
Speaking with Japan’s Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Altman said OpenAI is developing a dedicated AI device. He hinted at a partnership with Jony Ive, the former Apple design chief, to bring the concept to life.
“We hope to do it in partnership,” Altman told Nikkei on January 27. He is currently in Japan and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday.
This follows reports from September 2024 that OpenAI had teamed up with Ive and Laurene Powell Jobs on a secretive AI device. If the project moves forward, it would mark Ive’s most significant venture in tech since leaving Apple.
Altman went on to say that “AI needs a new terminal because it changes the way it interacts with computers from the ground up,” adding, “Voice (manipulation) will be the key.”
He said that China’s progress in AI is narrowing the gap with the United States. Speaking about Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, he noted that China’s capabilities are “significantly catching up with the United States.”
Altman also raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI, warning that if China and other nations take the lead in development, “authoritarian countries can abuse AI to strengthen their systems,” including for military purposes.
Is OpenAI’s New AI Device the Future of Smartphones?
According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, OpenAI is not only working on this AI device but is also planning to develop its own semiconductors. This suggests the company is looking to optimize both hardware and software for AI-driven experiences…
Connect with us on our socials: