OpenAI is planning to acquire former Apple chief designer's AI hardware company

OpenAI is planning to acquire an AI hardware startup developed by company CEO Sam Altman in collaboration with former Apple designer Jony Ive, according to The Information, citing information from sources. According to the report, Altman's partnership with Jony Ive began more than a year ago, with the two discussing the development of an AI hardware similar to the voice assistant in the sci-fi movie Her. Notably, OpenAI executives were considering a purchase price of at least $500 million for the company, which would have included a team of engineers involved in the development of the device. Currently, the design of the AI hardware is still in the preliminary stages and has yet to be finalized. Potential designs include a "phone" without a screen and an AI-enabled home device. Some project stakeholders have emphasized that this device is not a 'phone'. Altman and Jony Ive are reportedly working with a startup called io Products, which has received an undisclosed amount of funding. Altman is not a co-founder of the project, but has been closely involved in product development, according to people close to the negotiations. A spokesperson for OpenAI and Jony Ive declined to comment on the information.