openai, Jony Ive Face Hurdles in Developing New AI Device
SAN FRANCISCO – OpenAI is venturing into hardware progress with a secretive new AI gadget, enlisting the design expertise of Jony Ive’s firm LoveFrom, but the project is facing challenges refining the device’s artificial intelligence personality, according to people familiar with the matter. The effort comes as OpenAI seeks to demonstrate value following a recent deal valuing the company at $500 billion.
The new device aims to surpass the functionality of existing smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo, which are typically limited to tasks such as music playback and setting timers. OpenAI and Ive are striving for a more versatile and helpful machine.
A key difficulty lies in establishing the device’s “voice” and behavior, ensuring it offers assistance without being overly intrusive or engaging in repetitive conversation-a problem currently experienced with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. ”The concept is that you should have a friend who’s a computer who isn’t your weird AI girlfriend… like [Apple’s digital voice assistant] Siri but better,” one source briefed on the plans explained. OpenAI is focused on finding “ways for it to be accessible but not intrusive.”
Balancing the AI’s personality is proving complex. “Model personality is a hard thing to balance,” another person close to the project said. “It can’t be to sycophantic, not too direct, helpful, but doesn’t keep talking in a feedback loop.”
OpenAI’s entry into the market follows criticism of similar AI companion devices, such as the “creepy” and “snarky” Friend pendant, and the ultimately scrapped AI Pin from Humane, a company in which OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman invested.
To build its hardware capabilities, OpenAI has been aggressively recruiting talent, including acquiring io, which brought over 20 former Apple hardware employees previously recruited by Ive.The company has also hired at least a dozen additional Apple device experts this year,according to linkedin data,and has poached staff from meta’s Quest headset and smart glasses teams.
Manufacturing is underway with Chinese contract manufacturers, including Luxshare, though assembly may occur outside of china.
OpenAI and LoveFrom both declined to comment on the project.
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