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Earlier than Google kicked off its I/O 2025 occasion, which turned out to be an much more thrilling show of AI prowess than final 12 months, I questioned whether or not OpenAI would make any last-minute ChatGPT announcements to shock the world earlier than Google had an opportunity to announce all its Gemini novelties.
OpenAI did no such factor, selecting to not repeat final 12 months’s stunt. However that’s solely as a result of it had a a lot better trick up its sleeve to steal the world’s consideration away from Google. OpenAI scheduled the shock announcement of the primary io ChatGPT product two days after Google’s primary I/O keynote.
The corporate launched an important announcement video that includes Sam Altman and Jony Ive. In it, the 2 introduced the new partnership between OpenAI, io, and LoveFrom and teased the slew of AI gadgets they’ll be releasing within the coming years.
The video advised us that Sam Altman is already utilizing a completed prototype of this mysterious io ChatGPT system, with out revealing extra particulars in regards to the product. We discovered it wouldn’t be a laptop computer, as that’s a cumbersome approach to provoke conversations with ChatGPT. It wasn’t clear if it might be a telephone, however earlier stories have mentioned the 2 events, now joined below OpenAI, won’t make a telephone of their very own.
The clip additionally teased a launch date for the io ChatGPT product, saying OpenAI and io sit up for sharing their work subsequent 12 months. Extra particulars about this primary ChatGPT gadget leaked rapidly after Sam Altman briefed workers in regards to the information.
In response to The Wall Street Journal, Altman gave OpenAI workers a preview of the gadgets. The CEO mentioned OpenAI plans to promote 100 million AI “companions” as soon as the product arrives in late 2026.
That’s the primary massive element in regards to the system. It’ll be a product you carry, however not a telephone, and never a wearable, as Altman later mentioned. The primary io ChatGPT system won’t be a pair of sensible glasses, and Altman is skeptical of wearable devices.
As for the plan to promote 100 million models, Altman mentioned OpenAI would possibly attain that milestone sooner than any first-gen brand-new product from some other firm.
Altman mentioned that OpenAI “has the possibility to do the most important factor we’ve ever completed as an organization right here,” explaining that the $6.5 billion buy of Jony Ive’s {hardware} startup would possibly add $1 trillion in worth to OpenAI.
Talking of the io ChatGPT product, Altman mentioned the system shall be totally conscious of the person’s environment and life. It is going to be unobtrusive, and it’ll be sufficiently small to relaxation in a pocket. Altman mentioned the gadget would develop into the third “core system” you placed on a desk after a MacBook Professional or iPhone.
Altman additionally highlighted these two merchandise as key gadgets that Jony Ive had a giant position in making throughout his lengthy stint at Apple.
The WSJ additionally notes that Altman advised OpenAI workers that secrecy could be paramount so opponents couldn’t copy the system earlier than it was prepared. But the audio recording of this inside assembly has already leaked.
The CEO revealed that OpenAI and io have been engaged on the primary ChatGPT gadget for some 18 months. The corporate settled on the ultimate product final fall. Ive’s workforce has been talking with distributors for the previous few months to fabricate the system at scale.
The unique plan was for the 2 corporations to exist individually. OpenAI would deal with the software program, and io would make the {hardware}. However then Altman mentioned he realized the system wouldn’t be simply an adjunct however a central side of the person expertise with OpenAI.
“We each received enthusiastic about the concept that, if you happen to subscribed to ChatGPT, we must always simply mail you new computer systems, and you must use these,” Altman mentioned.
The video OpenAI launched on Wednesday advised us io shall be engaged on a household of ChatGPT merchandise, not simply the mysterious one launching subsequent 12 months. Altman overrated the io product by detailing the prototype he received to make use of.
Jony not too long ago gave me one of many prototypes of the system for the primary time to take dwelling, and I’ve been in a position to stay with it, and I feel it’s the coolest piece of expertise that the world could have ever seen.
I’ve lengthy mentioned that ChatGPT wants its own residence in a world the place Apple and Google are the frontrunners for making gadgets that may provide entry to extra superior AI. I additionally mentioned that having Jony Ive convey to OpenAI his design experience and decades-long expertise at Apple may very well be precisely what OpenAI must make a product that the world will need.
I don’t learn about you, however I’m already excited to see what this mysterious io ChatGPT system is. I’ll in all probability purchase one as quickly as I get an opportunity. And I’m positively trying ahead to seeing Ive announce his new creation on stage and in promo movies. That’s one thing that has been lacking from Apple product launch occasions for fairly some time now.
