The Jony Ive/OpenAI device, a limited function, screenless, smartphone?

29 May 2025

Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at Hong Kong based TF International Securities, spills the tea, perhaps, about the upcoming “futuristic AI device” being designed collaboratively by former Apple CDO Jony Ive, and OpenAI.

According to Kuo (X/Twitter link), the device is intended to be worn around the neck. A bit like a lanyard maybe. It will be a little bigger than the erstwhile Humane AI Pin, will have cameras and microphones, but no display screen.

The device however will connect to smartphones and computers, and use their screens, and, by the sounds of things, tap into their computing capabilities also.

This detail intrigues me. Given the Ive/OpenAI device is intended to be “a product that uses AI to create a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone”, doesn’t deriving much, or some, functionality from an iPhone (or other smartphone), defeat the purpose?

Otherwise the device sounds like a lite version of a smartphone, that you could keep on your side table overnight. It can still make and pickup phone calls, act as an alarm clock, and offer information in response to voice prompts.

Things like: “what’s the weather forecast?” or: “what’s making news headlines this morning?” It may be possibly be a device that keeps us connected to the outside world, but prevents social media doomscrolling in the middle of the night.

That might be something people will find useful. We’ll have to wait and see what is actually shipped.