Jony Ive, the former Apple designer, has revealed that his upcoming project is aimed at addressing the “unintended consequences” of the iPhone. In a recent interview with Stripe, he expressed significant concern about the negative impacts that smartphones can have on users, stating that it’s something that deeply preoccupies him.
“When innovating, unintended consequences are inevitable,” Ive noted. “While we hope for mostly pleasant surprises, I recognize that some products I’ve closely worked on have had unintended outcomes that were far from desirable.”
Ive, who dedicated over 20 years to Apple and played a pivotal role in designing key products like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iPod, departed the company in 2019 to establish his design firm, LoveFrom. Last year, he confirmed he is collaborating with OpenAI on a new device, a topic he hinted at during this interview.
“Regardless of your good intentions, when you’re involved in something that leads to negative consequences, it’s important to take responsibility,” he remarked. “This sense of ownership has significantly influenced my current work, which I’m not at liberty to discuss yet but look forward to sharing in the future.”
Regarding artificial intelligence, Ive shared his optimism about the rarity of discussions on AI that fail to address safety concerns. In contrast, he expressed his alarm over the rise of social media, which he felt lacked similar scrutiny.
While specific details about the device in collaboration with OpenAI remain limited, The New York Times has reported that LoveFrom is spearheading its design, working alongside Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, both of whom contributed to the iPhone’s development. Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are said to have explored how AI can enhance user experience beyond what traditional software offers.
