Sam Altman employs artificial intelligence beyond the screen. After shaking the world of high-tech with ChatGpt, Openai CEO set his sights on an all-new frontier. This is a dedicated AI device designed to seamlessly integrate artificial intelligence into your daily life.
To realize this ambitious vision, Altman wants to work with Jony Ive, Apple’s renowned former chief design officer who played a pivotal role in the formation of the iPhone, iMac and iPad. . If successful, this partnership could enter a new era of AI native consumer technology and redefine how people interact with machines.
AI devices that could rival the impact of iPhones
In an exclusive interview with Nikkei Asia, Altman hinted that Openai is working on hardware specifically built for AI interaction. He described it as “the biggest evolution of high-tech devices since the iPhone.”
Details remain under the wrap, but the vision is clear. It allows for ways to interact with more intuitive and natural artificial intelligence with AI-powered devices that transcend traditional interfaces such as keyboards and touchscreens.
Jony Ive’s Altman’s choice as a collaborator suggests that he focuses on design and ease of use. Ive helped Apple rise to dominance and pioneered a sophisticated minimalist aesthetic and a user-friendly interface that sets the iPhone apart. If this project were to come true, it could mean a fundamental departure from current smartphones and computers, making AI more accessible than ever.
Openai’s broader strategy: Get ahead of the global AI race
Beyond Hardware, Openai is engaged in the high stakes battle for AI hegemony. The emergence of Deepseek, a powerful AI model from China, has intensified competition, and Chinese companies are rapidly filling the gap between US technology leaders.
Altman acknowledged the change, saying that China has been “significantly caught up in” American AI companies. More concerning, he warned of the geopolitical risks of AI advancement:
“It is dangerous for authoritarian governments to misuse powerful AI to integrate management.”
The comment reflects growing concern that AI can be used for mass surveillance, state-controlled disinformation, and digital authoritarianism. For Openai, the challenges are no longer just technology, they are geopolitical.
A $500 billion plan to control AI infrastructure
To maintain its edge over Global Rivals, Openai has announced Stargate. Stargate is a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative backed by Softbank Group and Oracle. This large investment aims to build cutting-edge data centers throughout the US, and aims to ensure Openai has the computing power needed to drive the next advancement of AI.
The exponentially powerful AI models have made processing power a competitive advantage. Stargate is able to provide Openai with a long-term infrastructure backbone, giving it an edge over its competitors such as Google Deepmind, Meta, and Microsoft.
Openai pushes semiconductor development
Openai’s ambitions don’t stop with software and infrastructure. The company is also investigating the possibility of designing its own AI chip. This is a move that allows GPUs to reduce their reliance on Nvidia, the industry standard for training and execution of AI models.
Altman confirmed the company’s interest in Chip development and said, “We’re definitely working on it.”
By developing an in-house AI chip, OpenAI can optimize the hardware of your model, improve efficiency and reduce costs. Tech giants like Apple, Google and Amazon are already doing the same thing, designing their own AI accelerators to enhance their machine learning workloads.
When Openai enters the semiconductor space, it can shift the power balance of AI computing and reduce its dependency on third-party hardware suppliers.
Japan’s potential role in the expansion of Openai
During his recent trip to Japan, Altman has met with key Japanese executives to show that Openry sees him as a key partner in its long-term strategy. The discussion reportedly focused on potential collaborations in semiconductor development and AI infrastructure investment.
“There are many areas where we can work with, especially in chip manufacturing,” Altman said.
Japan’s highly sophisticated semiconductor industry could play a key role in the expansion of Openai, providing access to cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and engineering expertise. With tensions growing between the US and China, Japan’s involvement could further strengthen its open position in the world’s AI race.
Openai transforms into a full-scale high-tech powerhouse
What began as an AI Research Lab has now evolved into a global high-tech powerhouse. Openai is no longer building AI models, but expanding to hardware, infrastructure and semiconductors, positioning itself as a direct competitor to the biggest names of technology.
By partnering with Jony Ive, investing in large-scale AI infrastructure and exploring custom chip development, Openai laid the foundation for a new era of artificial intelligence.
If Altman’s vision comes to life, Openai can do what Apple did for mobile computing for AI.
