In a reveal that could reshape the future of personal technology, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and legendary Apple designer Jony Ive confirmed that OpenAI’s first consumer device will debut in less than two years. The announcement, made during Emerson Collective’s Demo Day in San Francisco on Nov. 22, 2025, hints at a new kind of human-computer interaction — one that removes screens altogether.
Ive, the creative mind behind the iPhone, iMac, and iPad, said the project is already beyond concept, with a working prototype in hand. Both leaders described the device as an “ambient assistant,” powered by OpenAI’s multimodal intelligence and designed to blend invisibly into daily life.
“I love incredibly intelligent, sophisticated products that you want to touch, and you feel no intimidation,” Ive told the audience. “You use them almost without thought — they’re just tools.”
A Partnership of Design and Intelligence
The collaboration between Ive and Altman began in 2023 when OpenAI acquired Ive’s hardware design startup, io, for about $6.4 billion. That deal brought Ive’s minimalistic, human-centered design philosophy directly into OpenAI’s new hardware division, merging creative industrial design with cutting-edge AI research.
Altman emphasized that the intelligence itself — not the hardware — should take center stage. The new device, he explained, aims to strip away digital friction and let AI interpret the user’s intent through natural interaction: voice, gesture, and context.
“The goal,” Altman said, “is for the intelligence to carry enough of the work that the hardware can recede into the background.”
The comments suggest OpenAI is steering toward a screenless, context-aware device — perhaps one that listens, speaks, and observes rather than shows.
Inside the Concept: A “Multimodal” Ambient Device
Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer, offered further clues about the design direction, describing the device as “multimodal” and “provocative.” It will reportedly support text, sound, and sight — all without requiring users to look at a screen.
| Feature | Description | Intended Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Multimodal Interaction | Understands text, voice, and visual inputs | Natural, human-like communication |
| Screen-Free Design | No visual display; relies on audio and contextual awareness | Reduces sensory fatigue and screen time |
| Always-On Assistance | Continuously aware of user’s environment and activity | “Ambient” support for everyday tasks |
| Lightweight Hardware | Compact, portable, touchable | Designed for daily, unconscious use |
| AI Integration | Powered by OpenAI’s GPT models | Learns and adapts to personal context |
Friar hinted that the device could serve as the “front door” to OpenAI’s multimodal AI systems, bridging the company’s software ecosystem — including ChatGPT, voice, and vision capabilities — with a physical product.
A New Philosophy of Design: Beyond AR, VR, and Screens
The emerging vision sharply contrasts with the rest of the tech industry. While Meta, Apple, and Google are doubling down on AR and VR headsets, OpenAI appears to be taking the opposite route: removing visual layers altogether.
Instead of immersing users in augmented environments, Altman and Ive seem focused on “calm technology” — tools that fade into the background and integrate naturally into life. This philosophy echoes Ive’s long-held design principles at Apple: simplicity, humanity, and tactility.
“This feels like the first truly post-screen device,” said Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies. “It’s not trying to compete with your phone or your glasses — it’s trying to replace the interface itself.”
Industry watchers see this as a paradigm shift, moving away from display-driven experiences toward ambient computing, where devices respond intuitively to people and surroundings.
How OpenAI’s Device Could Differ from Competitors
| Company | Product Type | Interface | Focus | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | AI Ambient Device | Audio + Context | Invisible assistance | Screen-free, multimodal awareness |
| Apple | Vision Pro Headset | Visual AR display | Immersive visuals | High-end spatial computing |
| Meta | Ray-Ban Smart Glasses | Voice + Camera | Social and visual capture | Lightweight wearables |
| Amazon | Alexa Devices | Voice | Smart home control | Ecosystem integration |
| Pixel Devices | Voice + Touch | Search and connectivity | Multimodal AI integration |
If realized, OpenAI’s device would likely sit somewhere between a wearable and a home assistant, combining continuous learning, voice responsiveness, and sensory awareness — without tethering users to a display or a desk.
The Broader Vision: Everyday AI Without Friction
The concept of “ambient AI” has long been discussed but rarely executed. What Altman and Ive describe sounds less like another gadget and more like a personal cognitive companion — something that interprets daily life through continuous context rather than discrete commands.
Friar’s mention that the product will support sight implies it may include sensors or cameras that perceive the environment. Still, the team appears determined to avoid the privacy pitfalls that plagued early smart glasses and home cameras.
“Our focus is on trust and comfort,” Friar said. “We want something that feels effortless, not invasive.”
The ambition aligns with OpenAI’s broader goal: to make advanced AI ubiquitous, intuitive, and human-centered.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the excitement, analysts caution that hardware execution remains one of the toughest arenas in tech. OpenAI, a company built on software and cloud models, will need to master supply chains, design-for-manufacture, and user testing — areas where Ive’s experience at Apple will be crucial.
“Design is easy compared to scaling,” noted Mark Gurman, senior tech analyst at Bloomberg. “What OpenAI is trying to do is marry deep intelligence with frictionless hardware — and that’s uncharted territory.”
Questions also remain about price, form factor, and privacy safeguards, particularly as the device collects multimodal data in real time.
Why It Matters?
If successful, OpenAI’s first device could redefine how people interact with machines — from tapping screens to speaking naturally, from reactive tools to proactive partners. The project signals a shift toward “invisible computing,” where intelligence exists all around us, rather than confined within devices.
For Ive, it’s a return to the ethos that made Apple’s products iconic: technology that feels human. For Altman, it’s a chance to turn OpenAI’s models into a tangible experience — one that lives beyond the chat interface.
Conclusion
The partnership between Jony Ive and Sam Altman may mark one of the most ambitious design and technology collaborations of the decade. Their shared vision — a screen-free, intuitive device powered by world-class AI — could usher in the next chapter of human-computer interaction. Whether it succeeds or not, it signals a profound shift in how we imagine our relationship with technology: not as something we stare at, but something that understands us quietly, seamlessly, and everywhere.
FAQs
When will OpenAI’s first device launch?
Both Sam Altman and Jony Ive said it will arrive in less than two years, targeting a 2027 release or earlier.
What will the device do?
It’s expected to serve as a multimodal AI assistant, understanding speech, visuals, and text — without requiring a screen.
How will it differ from AR/VR headsets?
Unlike headsets, OpenAI’s device reportedly won’t use visual overlays. It focuses on natural interaction and ambient awareness.
Will it replace phones or computers?
Unlikely at first — but it could complement smartphones by handling quick, context-driven tasks more naturally.
Who is leading the design?
Jony Ive, formerly Apple’s Chief Design Officer, is leading hardware design in collaboration with OpenAI’s product and research teams.
How much will it cost?
Pricing remains unknown, but analysts expect a premium early model followed by broader consumer versions.