Sir Jony Ive, the iconic designer behind the iPhone, has announced that his next AI-powered device will be created with a deep belief that “humanity deserves better.” Ive said the project, in partnership with OpenAI, aims to renew his faith in technology—especially in an era when smartphones and social media are increasingly criticized.
In a Financial Times interview, the London-born designer shared few details about the new product but made it clear that it’s rooted in a desire to reshape how we relate to technology. “Many of us would say we have an uneasy relationship with tech today,” he said. “This design is being driven by the sense that ‘we deserve better.’”
While Ive, Apple’s former chief design officer, is known for innovation, he acknowledged feeling partly responsible for the downsides of modern devices. “Some of the less positive outcomes were unintentional, but I still feel a responsibility. That’s why I’m determined to try and be useful.”
He added: “When you create something new, there are always unforeseen consequences—some wonderful, some harmful.”
Last month, OpenAI acquired Ive’s hardware startup, LoveFrom spin-off io, in a $6.4 billion (£4.7 billion) deal. Ive will now lead creative and design efforts across the merged companies.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in a video announcement, called the prototype “the coolest piece of technology the world will have ever seen.” Reports suggest the device will be screenless, worn around the neck, and as sleek as an iPod Shuffle. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects mass production to begin in 2027.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the device is designed to be fully aware of its user’s surroundings and could become a third core personal gadget—alongside the iPhone and MacBook Pro.
Ive said working with OpenAI has rekindled the idealism he once saw in Silicon Valley. “When I first came here, people genuinely believed their work was in service to humanity. I don’t feel that as much anymore,” he admitted.
He was interviewed alongside Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who echoed his concerns. “Just look at the research on teen girls, anxiety, and mental health. We’ve gone sideways. Tech wasn’t meant to have that impact—but that’s where we are.”
Powell Jobs, whose firm Emerson Collective backs Ive’s LoveFrom, declined to say whether the new device would compete with Apple’s products. “I’m still close with Apple’s leadership,” she said. “They’re good people, and I want them to succeed too.”
