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OpenAI is reportedly collaborating with former Apple design guru Jony Ive on a dedicated AI device, having acquired the startup “io,” co-founded by Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in a deal valued at $6.5 billion. The ambitious project aims to create an AI “companion,” with internal targets suggesting a potential shipment of 100 million units.

Altman envisions the device, which may evolve into a range of devices, as seamlessly integrated into a user’s daily life, possessing a deep understanding of their environment. Ive describes the project as spearheading “a new design movement.” The device is intended to become a core component of the OpenAI ecosystem, with Altman hinting at potential device upgrades for ChatGPT subscribers.

This new device seeks to overcome the inherent constraints of existing platforms like smartphones and AR glasses in delivering optimal AI experiences. While concrete details remain elusive, it’s confirmed that the project will not be another smartphone or a glasses-type product. The collaboration already boasts a functional prototype, with Altman aiming for a release by late 2026.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the device will be slightly larger than the Humane AI Pin but will retain a compact form factor, akin to an iPod Shuffle, and lack a screen. Instead, it will rely on microphones and cameras to interact with phones and computers, potentially being worn as a necklace. While mass production is currently projected for 2027, the design is still subject to modifications.