Designing the Future of AI Devices: Sam Harrons’ Vision Inspired by Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s OpenAI + LoveFrom Collaboration

How the Next Wave of AI Devices Could Reclaim Our Time

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the intersection of technology and design, the names Jony Ive and Sam Altman will already feel familiar—modern legends in their respective fields. If not, you’re in for an intriguing collision of worlds.

Sir Jony Ive, the design visionary behind Apple’s most celebrated creations—the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch—spent decades turning functional electronics into cultural icons. Now, as head of his creative collective LoveFrom, he continues to shape the way we interact with technology, blending elegance, tactility, and humanity.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has spent the past decade pushing artificial intelligence into the mainstream, championing tools that can integrate into daily life while respecting our attention. His vision is not simply about building the smartest AI, but building AI that fits us—quietly, intuitively, almost invisibly.

The Partnership That’s Set to Redefine “Smart”

In 2024, Ive co-founded a new hardware venture called io with a small team of celebrated product designers. Less than a year later, in mid-2025, OpenAI acquired io in a $6.5 billion deal. The plan: merge LoveFrom’s design mastery with OpenAI’s AI capabilities to create a family of devices—screenless, context-aware companions designed for seamless, ambient integration into our lives.

Altman has described this as a “third core device” to sit alongside your phone and laptop. Sources suggest a launch target of late 2026, with ambitions to scale faster than any previous consumer hardware category. Backing even comes from Laurene Powell Jobs, reinforcing the partnership’s human-first, ethically minded orientation.

There’s been one hiccup: a trademark dispute over the “io” name led to OpenAI removing some promotional material. But the collaboration remains very much alive—and the industry is watching.

Why This Matters to Me

As a designer and creative strategist, I see this not just as another high-profile tech partnership, but as a turning point. For years, “smart” has meant more screens, more notifications, and more intrusion. What if we could turn that on its head? What if our devices stopped demanding our attention and instead protected it—helping us feel calmer, more connected, more present?

That’s where my speculative design work comes in. I’ve been imagining how a new class of AI-powered artefacts could embody this ethos—beautiful, tactile objects that blend intelligence with human-centred design.

The Trifecta: Function, Form, Freedom

Traditional design often follows the mantra “form follows function.” For wellness-centred technology, I believe the equation is more balanced:

Function: Practical, intuitive, and genuinely helpful.
Form: Objects as beautiful, grounding, and timeless as those found in nature.
Freedom: Technology that enhances our lives without hijacking our attention.

With those principles, I’ve designed three speculative devices—Pebble, Stone, and Rock—each addressing different moments in our daily lives.

Pebble – The Wearable Companion

Small enough to wear as a pendant or ring, Pebble is designed for the person who wants assistance without the constant pull of a screen. It’s discreet and tactile, delivering short, timely nudges: a gentle reminder to move, a brief mindfulness exercise, or an end-of-day reflection.

In the bedroom, Pebble could replace your phone entirely—doubling as a voice-activated alarm, playing a yoga nidra or guided meditation, or cueing soft white noise to ease you into sleep. By removing the temptation to scroll, it supports healthier sleep hygiene while keeping essential features at hand—without the blue light.

Stone – Calm in Your Pocket

Stone is palm-sized, with softened edges so it rests naturally in the hand. It’s for creatives, commuters, or anyone who wants a pause button in their pocket. It can summarise your day in a few sentences, play calming soundscapes, or connect to your headphones for a quick meditation.

It’s not about replacing your phone; it’s about giving you a different kind of tool—one designed for focus and restoration rather than endless stimulation. Like Pebble, Stone can also play a role in your bedtime routine, delivering sleep stories or calming audio as you wind down, before shutting itself off for the night.

Rock – Ambient Intelligence for the Home

Rock is the largest of the three—a sculptural, design-led object that sits naturally on a desk, shelf, or bedside table. It’s both a refined speaker and a subtle light source, capable of integrating with smart home systems to adjust your environment with minimal effort.

In the bedroom, Rock could be your evening host: dimming the lights, playing a curated sleep playlist from Spotify or Apple Music, reading bedtime stories to children, or running an uninterrupted white noise programme. In the living room, it could become the party DJ—taking voice-requested playlists and filling the space with warm, immersive sound. Imagine a collaboration with Bang & Olufsen or Sonos, where audio excellence meets mindful design.

Why the Bedroom Matters

Much of our unhealthy tech use happens at night, often under the guise of “just checking something.” By deliberately leaving the smartphone outside the bedroom and replacing it with devices like Pebble or Rock, we avoid late-night scrolling, reduce blue light exposure, and create a calmer mental space.

In doing so, we redefine what “smart” means: not just reactive and responsive, but proactive in protecting our well-being.

Sustainability and Materials

These concepts are not disposable gadgets. They’re built to last, using sustainably sourced wood, recycled metals, ceramics, and biodegradable polymers. Batteries are replaceable, components modular. Power could even incorporate solar or kinetic charging elements, further reducing their environmental impact.

In my vision, these are objects you want to keep, repair, and cherish—because they earn their place in your life.

A Smarter Kind of Smart

Ultimately, my interest lies in uniting AI, hardware, and design to help humans connect more deeply—to each other, to themselves, and to the physical world around them. I believe that if we steer innovation toward creating artefacts that actively support daily life and well-being, we’ll be on to something truly transformative.

This is not about novelty for novelty’s sake. It’s about designing for the greater good—using the most advanced tools we have to create a calmer, kinder, more human-centred future.

Designing the Future of AI Devices in the Age of Jony Ive and Sam Altman