Table of Contents
Renowned designer Jony Ive and OpenAI’s Sam Altman have joined forces with a seasoned Apple Inc. for Apple’s iPhone AI Design expert to embark on an exciting venture in artificial intelligence hardware. Their mission is to develop cutting-edge devices that harness the most advanced capabilities available in Apple’s iPhone AI Design.
Tang Tan and Altman Join Ive’s Apple iPhone AI Project at LoveFrom
According to insiders, Tang Tan, an outgoing executive from Apple, will be joining LoveFrom, the design firm led by Jony Ive. LoveFrom will play a crucial role in defining the aesthetics and features of Apple’s iPhone AI Design. Additionally, the software expertise will be provided by Altman, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence. Although this project is not yet public, sources reveal that Altman will be responsible for the software foundation.
Since his departure from Apple in 2019 to establish LoveFrom, Apple’s iPhone AI Design project stands as one of Ive’s most ambitious endeavors. Renowned for his contributions to iconic Apple products like the iMac, iPhone, and iPad alongside Steve Jobs, the visionary designer aspires to transform the AI device work into a thriving new company. Although the products are still in the early stages of development, the team is currently dedicated to recruiting top talent and crafting innovative concepts.
According to insiders, Tan will be taking charge of hardware engineering for the project while being employed at LoveFrom. It was previously reported by AI News that this executive would be stepping down from his position as Apple’s vice president of iPhone and watch product design. Although his departure is scheduled for February, his responsibilities have already been distributed this month for Apple’s iPhone AI Design.
Altman’s Funding Quest and LoveFrom’s Silence on Apple’s iPhone AI Design
Altman, who was dismissed as the CEO of OpenAI in November and swiftly reinstated, managed to ruffle some feathers among board members by seeking funds for various other ventures. One such endeavor involved collaborating with Ive, as reported by News in November. Altman had approached Masayoshi Son, the Chairman of SoftBank Group Corp., in hopes of securing a substantial investment worth billions for their new company.
LoveFrom, the company to which OpenAI referred questions, has chosen not to comment on projects of Apple’s iPhone AI Design in the concept stage, including devices for the home. Similarly, Apple has also declined to provide any comments on the matter.
Apple is experiencing a significant loss of design talent with Tan’s departure. Over the past two years, approximately 14 members of Ive’s former team have bid farewell to Apple’s iPhone AI Design. Only a handful of designers who were once under Ive’s leadership are still part of the Apple family.
Apple’s Leadership Shift and LoveFrom’s Rising Profile
Earlier in the year, Apple faced a setback when Evans Hankey, who was supposed to succeed Ive, left the company after just a few years. This departure created a void in Apple’s design leadership, leaving them without a clear replacement. However, instead of appointing a new executive, Apple decided to have Jeff Williams, their chief operating officer, directly supervise the talented team of designers.
LoveFrom, on the other hand, has curated an impressive list of esteemed clients, such as Airbnb Inc., Ferrari NV, and Moncler SpA. Additionally, the firm enjoyed a fruitful three-year partnership with Apple, offering its expert consulting services. However, this collaboration came to a close in 2022. Notably, LoveFrom has attracted over 20 talented individuals who were once part of Apple’s workforce, further enhancing the design firm’s capabilities.
The recent wave of departures at Apple shows no signs of stopping. Patrick Coffman, a key figure in Apple’s user interface design, has decided to move on. Joining him in the departure is Colin Burns, a former design executive at the British Broadcasting Corp. who joined Apple after Jony Ive’s departure. Burns, who heads Apple’s Interaction Architecture team, responsible for pioneering new hardware and software ideas, will be leaving in January.
