Approximately a month ago, OpenAI eliminated any reference to the $6.5 billion takeover of io, Jony Ive’s company intended to produce ChatGPT hardware for the AI organization. The arrangement was initially revealed in mid-May through an unexpected video featuring Sam Altman and Jony Ive, where they discussed their collaboration and teased the ChatGPT io device. Ive and his team, comprised of prominent former Apple designers and engineers, had already created a prototype that Altman evaluated.
Rumors circulated about whether either side had reconsidered, raising doubts about whether the agreement was scrapped or if the first of several ChatGPT devices had been called off. However, it was evident that OpenAI could not afford to progress through the AI era without its own hardware. The future is moving towards smart devices like smartphones and computers incorporating AI assistants that are significantly more potent and personalized than the current ChatGPT and Gemini, providing helpful assistance throughout the day.
To accomplish this, AI firms must manage both software and hardware to guarantee that the AI assistant experience remains private and secure. Regardless of Jony Ive’s io, OpenAI would still need to construct ChatGPT hardware.
Last month, it was disclosed why OpenAI had to delete any reference of io from its website. The agreement had not collapsed, but legal complications had emerged. Another AI startup developing similar hardware, named iyO and partially financed by Google, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. This startup had previously engaged with io executives before OpenAI announced the acquisition of Jony Ive’s firm. io executives were presented with demonstrations of iyO’s wearable technology, and iyO even approached OpenAI, but the proposal was rejected.
