OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has offered the clearest hint yet about the company’s upcoming AI hardware device, suggesting it will change how people interact with technology. Speaking at Emerson Collective’s 9th annual Demo Day, Altman described the new gadget as “more peaceful and calm than the iPhone,” while Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive shared the stage to explain their joint vision.
The device, which has not been named, is being built in partnership with Ive and draws on work from his design company, io, which OpenAI acquired. According to Altman, many people are surprised when they first see the prototype because of how simple it looks.
Altman said the goal is to counter the overwhelming noise of modern smartphones. He called the iPhone “the crowning achievement of consumer products,” but said today’s devices have become crowded with attention-grabbing apps, nonstop notifications, and digital distractions. He compared the experience of using current phones to walking through Times Square, full of bright lights, noise, and chaos.
The new AI device aims to bring the opposite feeling. Altman said the experience should be more like sitting in a quiet cabin by a lake in the mountains, calm, clear, and free from interruption. The device is being designed to filter out unnecessary noise, show information only when needed, and build strong, long-term trust with users. Over time, it is expected to develop deep contextual awareness, learning a user’s daily habits and needs.
Although specific technical details remain secret, the device is believed to be small enough to fit in a pocket, with no screen, and designed entirely around AI-first interactions rather than apps. This marks a major shift from traditional hardware, which relies heavily on touchscreens.
Jony Ive said he is drawn to products that appear simple and unintimidating, yet contain sophisticated intelligence beneath the surface. He described the new device as something people should be able to use naturally, almost without thinking.
I’ve also confirmed that early prototypes already exist and suggested the device could be released within two years. Many analysts think this could be the first major AI-native consumer gadget and could eventually become a serious challenger to the smartphone as the primary personal device of the future.
