The AI Pocket Revolution: How OpenAI and Jony Ive Are Building the Next Trillion-Dollar Device

Beyond Screens, Beyond Wearables

OpenAI and former Apple design chief Jony Ive are quietly crafting a pocket-sized, contextually aware device that defies current tech categories. It’s not eyewear, not a phone, and not even a traditional wearable—just a discreet, screen-free companion designed to blend into daily life. The project, born from OpenAI’s $6.5 billion acquisition of Ive’s AI hardware startup, io, could redefine how we interact with technology. Sam Altman believes it might add $1 trillion to OpenAI’s valuation, calling it “the third core device” alongside a MacBook Pro and iPhone.

“This isn’t about replacing your phone. It’s about moving beyond the screen entirely,” Altman told WIRED in an off-record briefing. “We’re fixing unintended consequences—the dopamine traps, the endless scrolling.”

The Unobtrusive Future

Scheduled for late 2026, the first device aims to be “life-aware,” leveraging OpenAI’s models to anticipate needs without demanding attention. Ive, who compared his partnership with Altman to his legendary collaboration with Steve Jobs, described it as “a new design movement.” The goal? To create something so intuitive it feels like an extension of the user—no notifications, no glare, just seamless assistance. Altman’s ambition is staggering: He wants to ship it “faster than any company has ever shipped 100 million of something new before.”

Details remain scarce, but insiders hint at voice-first interaction, environmental sensing, and a form factor that prioritizes tactility over pixels. One thing’s certain: If the duo succeeds, the device won’t just compete with your iPhone—it’ll make you question why you ever needed one.