OpenAI’s dream of building a groundbreaking AI gadget with Apple’s iconic designer Jony Ive seems to be hitting turbulence. According to a Financial Times report, the highly secretive project, meant to deliver a palm-sized device powered by artificial intelligence, is struggling to overcome a series of technical and design challenges, casting doubt over its planned launch timeline.
The collaboration between OpenAI and Ive’s design studio took place earlier this year after OpenAI acquired his company, LoveFrom, for around $6.5 billion. The idea was to create a device that redefines how humans interact with machines, one without a screen, that relies entirely on audio and visual cues to respond to its surroundings. While that vision still stands, people close to the development say the project is far from smooth sailing.
The first major issue lies in computing power. OpenAI, which already faces high demand for the servers running ChatGPT, reportedly lacks the large-scale computing infrastructure needed to make the new device work in real time. One person familiar with the project told FT, “Amazon has the compute for an Alexa, so does Google [for its Home device], but OpenAI is struggling to get enough compute for ChatGPT, let alone an AI device—they need to fix that first.” This limitation appears to be one of the most pressing bottlenecks, especially as the device is expected to handle continuous processing of audio and visual data.
Beyond hardware, the team is also trying to crack the emotional side of artificial intelligence, what they internally call the assistant’s “personality.” The idea is to build a voice assistant that feels like “a helpful friend” rather than a robotic or overly personal entity. However, finding the right tone and interaction style has reportedly been difficult. Developers are said to be experimenting with different conversational models that strike the right balance between friendly and professional, while steering clear of the “weird AI companion” experience some previous devices have offered.
Privacy and user experience add another layer of complexity. The upcoming device is said to operate in an “always on” mode, constantly listening, observing, and learning from the user’s environment to create a form of memory. That design choice has triggered internal debates about how to maintain privacy while still offering a seamless experience. One insider told the publication that ensuring the assistant only speaks when necessary, and knows when to stop, has been surprisingly tricky to get right.
The product, reportedly the size of a smartphone, will include a camera, microphone, and speaker. It’s being designed to sit on a desk or be carried around, and aims to feel like a living part of a user’s space, which is always aware but not intrusive. When OpenAI first announced the acquisition of Ive’s studio, early reports hinted that the first device could launch by 2026. But with the growing list of technical and philosophical challenges, insiders now say the timeline is uncertain.
