Apple’s Legendary Designer and OpenAI’s CEO Are Building a Radical New Smartphone

The tech world may be on the brink of a major shift. While billions of people worldwide still depend on screen-based smartphones every day, Jony Ive — the iconic Apple designer who shaped the iPhone’s aesthetic and form — and Sam Altman — CEO of OpenAI and architect of ChatGPT — are reportedly working on a completely new type of mobile device. This device will have no screen, no buttons, and will operate entirely through voice control and artificial intelligence (AI), potentially becoming a full-fledged alternative to traditional smartphones.

The goal of the project is not merely to create another “smart” gadget, but to reimagine daily digital communication from the ground up. Ive’s design philosophy, rooted in simplicity and functional beauty, is now fused with Altman’s AI vision, which has already disrupted the global digital landscape. Together, they aim to introduce a natural evolution of the smartphone — a device that aligns more closely with human intuition and prioritizes dialogue over touch.

Details about the device remain scarce, but what’s known so far is bold: there will be no display. Instead, users will interact with it via voice commands, receive responses through spoken dialogue, and transition into a screen-free digital lifestyle. While this may sound radical or even uncomfortable to many — especially given the failure of past projects like Humane’s AI Pin — there’s a significant difference this time: the people behind it have already changed the world — Ive through design, and Altman through artificial intelligence.

It’s been confirmed that OpenAI has acquired the startup founded by Ive and Altman for this project, reportedly investing $500 million. This cements the project as more than just a conceptual idea — it’s a serious technological venture aimed at shaping the next wave of consumer technology. The team includes former top Apple designers, including Evans Hankey and Tang Tan, reinforcing expectations that this won’t be just another experiment.

Yet public skepticism remains. In the case of Humane’s AI Pin, the device failed to gain mass adoption. Consumers still rely heavily on visual information, screen interfaces, and the tactile experience of scrolling through digital platforms. Critics argue that a screenless experience might limit key functions — how do you watch a film, play a game, or browse the web using voice alone?

However, history shows that many of today’s norms began as yesterday’s doubts. Ive and Altman appear poised to challenge convention once again, building a device that feels alien today but could become standard tomorrow. Their vision may lead not only to a screenless phone, but to a new category of devices built around intelligent, voice-first interfaces and seamless integration with the internet.

In the end, their innovation may mark the beginning of the end of the smartphone era, ushering in a new digital reality — one in which the device is no longer something we see, but something we simply talk to. And if that’s the future they’re building, the next era of technological design may already be underway.